CREATE TABLE table_204_296 (id DECIMAL, "rank" DECIMAL, "athlete" TEXT, "qual" DECIMAL, "final" DECIMAL, "total" DECIMAL, "notes" TEXT)

which athlete has the most total ?
SELECT "athlete" FROM table_204_296 ORDER BY "total" DESC LIMIT 1
SELECT "athlete" FROM "table_204_296" ORDER BY "total" DESC NULLS LAST LIMIT 1