Ten of the greatest Olympians of all time

Steve Redgrave: UK, rowing

Paavo Nurmi, Finland, athletics

Michael Phelps, USA, swimming

Nadia Comaneci, Romania, gymnastics

Jesse Owens, USA, athletics

Birgit Fischer, Germany, canoeing

Carl Lewis: USA, athletics

Jackie Joyner-Kersee, USA, athletics

Teofilo Stevenson, Cuba, boxing

The heavyweight boxer won three successive gold medals at Munich, Montreal and Moscow between 1972 and 1980, and remains a household name in Cuba, despite never fighting professionally. After winning at the 1976 Games, he was offered millions to challenge Muhammad Ali, another former Olympic champion, but turned it down, asking: "What is one million dollars compared to the love of eight million Cubans?"