The greatest Olympians possess awesome athleticism and inspire national pride. Here’s a look at some of the top Summer Olympians of all-time, according to FOXSports.com’s editors.

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After winning eight — count them, eight — gold medals in Beijing, there is little doubt that Michael Phelps is the greatest Olympian of all time. Phelps won't be able to match the eight in London, but with three medals already won in the 2012 Games, he became the all-time Olympics medal winner with 19 total.

MORE: Check out all the swimming action at the London Olympics.

Nemov was a powerhouse gymnast for Russia who competed in the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games. In 1996, Nemov captured two gold medals, one silver medal and three bronze medals. He followed that up with six more medals in Sydney in 2000. His Sydney performance made Nemov a 12-time Olympic medalist — etching his name into the annals of Olympic history.

MORE: Want to bring out your inner gymnastics warrior? Dominique Dawes shows you how.

Usain Bolt captured hearts the first time he struck a pose sending a lightning bolt into the air at the 2008 Olympic Games. He’s got a brash personality and is brimming with self-confidence. In 2008, Bolt’s record-breaking 100-meter time of 9.69 made him the fastest man ever and won him the gold. Later, he added a second gold — and world record — in the 200. Bolt will be looking to best himself in London.

MORE: Can Bolt repeat his feat in the 100 and 200 in London? Our experts are divided.

Griffith-Joyner became a darling in the world of track and filed in the 1980s. Fans were enamored of her speed and athleticism. Flo-Jo let her skill do the talking for her. Joyner is a five-time Olympic medalist. In her first Olympics in 1984, Flo-Jo captured the silver medal in the 200 meters. She really stepped it up at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, collecting gold medals in the 100, 200 and the 4x100 relay and silver in the 4x400 relay.

MORE: Is Flo-Jo's Olympic record the most memorable? Watch Remarkable Moments.

Nadia Comaneci became an international star during the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. Comaneci holds the distinction of being the first gymnast to earn a 10 in Olympic competition. Incredibly, Comaneci was only 14 years old when she captured her first gold medal.

MORE: How have the US gymnasts prepared for London? Watch Dominique Dawes.

Jenner’s original introduction to the spotlight came in the 1976 Olympics. Jenner won the gold medal in the decathlon. That decathlon win returned the title to the USA and made him a legend in the sport.

MORE: Is Jenner the US' biggest Olympic patriot? Watch Remarkable Moments.

Natalie Coughlin is the most decorated female Olympic swimmer in US history. Her medal haul began in Athens in 2004 where Coughlin won two gold medals, two silver medals and one bronze medal. Four years later in Beijing, she followed that performance with another gold medal, two silver medals and another bronze medal.

MORE: Is Coughlin the female Michael Phelps? Jen Floyd Engel says yes.

Ali is best known for his prowess in the ring, but his outlandish personality has cemented his spot in the pantheon of pop culture. Ali won a gold medal in the 1960 Olympics in Rome. Ali’s fighting style was almost as entertaining as listening to him rip opponents in the press before a bout.

MORE: Who can forget Ali's memorable 1996 lighting of the Olympic cauldron in Atlanta? Look back with Remarkable Moments.

Carl Lewis dominated track and field for almost 20 years. A nine-time gold medalist, Lewis won gold medals in four different Olympic Games. His four gold medals in the 1984 Olympics tied Jesse Owens for the top gold medal haul in Track and Field.

MORE: Could Nike's new USA track uniforms have made Lewis faster? Watch and see.

Mary Lou Retton became a media darling during the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Retton trained under famed gymnastics coaching duo Bela and Marta Karolyi. Retton put on a fantastic performance in the Olympics picking up two silver medals, two bronze medals — and a gold medal in the all-around competition.

MORE: Is Retton's or Kerri Strug's vault more iconic? Watch Remarkable Moments.

Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s legend looms large over athletes competing in the heptathlon and long jump. Joyner-Kersee medaled in four straight Olympics in the Heptathlon and/or Long jump. A six-time Olympic medalist, Joyner-Kersee captured two gold medals in the Heptathlon and one gold medal in the Long jump.

MORE: Joyner-Kersee is inspiring a current US gold-medal hopeful in London, Todd Behrendt writes.

Louganis is a five-time Olympic medalist. Despite winning silver in 1976 and two golds in 1984, Louganis’ gold medal performance in the 1988 Olympics is most memorable. Louganis hit his head on the diving platform during the preliminaries. Louganis rebounded from the injury to dominate his competition during the finals, earning a gold medal in the 3-meter springboard. He picked up a gold medal in the 10-meter platform as well.

MORE: Reflect on Louganis' incredible 1988 performance. Watch Remarkable Moments.

Mark Spitz can legitimately claim the title of second-best American swimmer in history. His mark of seven gold medals in the 1972 Olympics has only been eclipsed by Michael Phelps’ record of eight in the 2008 Beijing Games.

MORE: Whose gold-medal haul was more impressive? Spitz or Phelps?

Johnson’s first Olympic appearance came in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. He won gold with the 4X400-meter relay team. Johnson continued his gold medal winning streak in two subsequent Olympics. Johnson won gold in the 200 and 400 in Atlanta and won gold in the 400 in Sydney.

MORE: Johnson may be great, but he's wrong about "blade runner" Oscar Pistorius, Maurice Greene says.

A decorated Olympian, the Thorpedo earned that nickname for his speed and stealth as a swimmer. Thorpe’s five gold medals are the most won by an Australian swimmer.

MORE: How does US swimming star Eric Shanteau handle pressure? Watch and see.