Who was the first and only Olympian to win gold medals at both the Summer and Winter Olympics?

Eddie Eagan is recognized as the first and only Olympian to win gold medals at both the Summer and Winter Olympics. He achieved this remarkable feat by winning a gold medal in boxing at the 1920 Antwerp Summer Olympics and another gold in bobsledding at the 1932 Lake Placid Winter Olympics. This distinction highlights his extraordinary versatility as an athlete, competing successfully in two entirely different sports across two Olympic events. The uniqueness of his accomplishment emphasizes both the physical skill and the adaptability required to excel at such a high level in distinct competitive environments, setting him apart in Olympic history.