Final answer:
Michael Phelps holds the record for the largest number of medals won by a single person with a total of 28 Olympic medals, 23 of which are gold. This makes him the most decorated Olympian of all time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question pertains to exceptional athletic achievements and specifically, what is the largest number of medals won by a single person. While the provided information honors the influential sports figures of the past like Jim Thorpe, Gertrude Ederle, and Babe Ruth, it does not contain the current record-holding individual for the most medals won.
Nonetheless, it is generally known that the title for the largest number of Olympic medals ever won belongs to Michael Phelps, an American swimmer. Phelps has won a total of 28 medals, 23 of them being gold, in his Olympic career spanning four Olympic Games (2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016). This record makes Phelps the most decorated Olympian of all time. It's important to note that the specific counts may vary in other competitions or award ceremonies such as the Nobel Prize mentioned in the video reference, which is awarded for intellectual achievements rather than athletic ones.