Larisa Latynina
Let’s be honest—Larisa Latynina is either one of the greatest gymnasts ever or the most overrated name on this list. There’s no middle ground.
Yes, 18 Olympic medals. But look at the era. Fewer countries, less depth, completely different level of difficulty. Latynina vs Simone Biles isn’t a clean comparison—it’s a question of whether history should count more than evolution.
Against Nadia Comăneci, it’s consistency vs moment. Latynina stacked wins. Nadia created one the world remembers forever.
If you vote Latynina, you’re betting on longevity and numbers. If you don’t, you’re basically saying the sport outgrew her.
Larisa Latynina's Rankings
Gymnasts
Rank: #12 (see rankings)
Win Rate: 11.5%
Streak: ❄️ 4-match losing streak
Best matchups (highest win rate)
- Larisa Latynina vs Olga Korbut - Wins 25.0% of battles
Worst matchups (lowest win rate)
- Larisa Latynina vs Suni Lee - Loses 100.0% of battles
- Larisa Latynina vs Simone Biles - Loses 100.0% of battles
- Larisa Latynina vs Mary Lou Retton - Loses 100.0% of battles