Three-time Olympic champion Katinka Hosszu<\/strong> has announced her retirement after a career that saw her claim 97 international medals across 18 years, a record haul for a European swimmer.<\/p>\n

The Hungarian reached her first senior international podium when she won 400IM bronze at the 2004 European Short-Course Championships<\/strong> in Vienna, months after making her debut at Athens 2004, the first of five Olympics.<\/p>\n

Hosszu’s final trip to the rostrum came in 2022 when she was part of the Hungarian 4×200 free relay that claimed bronze at the Europeans in Rome.<\/p>\n

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Katinka Hosszu: Photo Courtesy: Deepbluemedia\/Insidefoto<\/p><\/div>\n
Hosszu is the second-fastest woman all-time in the long medley with a time of 4:26.36 en-route to gold in Rio<\/a> when she sliced a whopping 2.07secs off Ye Shiwen’s<\/strong> previous standard of 4:28.43 from the 2012 Olympics in London. Hosszu’s record stood until April 2023 when Summer McIntosh<\/strong> lowered it to 4:25.87, a time the Canadian blitzed in 4:24.38<\/a> at the 2024 Olympic trials. The pair are the only women to go inside 4:28.<\/p>\n
In all, Hosszu set 20 WRs – two in the long-course pool and 18 short-course.<\/p>\n
The 35-year-old amassed 97 medals including three Olympic golds in the 200 and 400IM and 100 back as well as taking silver in the 200 back at Rio 2016<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
She also won nine world long-course titles including four straight IM doubles and she became the first woman<\/a> to win five world titles in the same event with victory in the 400IM at Gwangju 2019<\/strong>, eight years after her first crown in the eight-length event in Shanghai. Hosszu also claimed one silver in the 200 back at Budapest 2017 and five world bronzes.<\/p>\n
Known as the ‘Iron Lady’ for her demanding race schedule, Hosszu made 25 visits to the European podium with 15 golds, six silvers and four bronze medals to rank third all-time behind Sarah<\/strong> Sj\u00f6str\u00f6m <\/strong>(28) and Alexander Popov<\/strong> (27).<\/p>\n
She competed in 10 long-course Europeans between 2006 and 2022, a record which was eclipsed by friend and fellow Hungarian Zsuzsanna Jakabos<\/strong> whose appearance at Belgrade 2024 was her 11th. Hosszu’s winning streak in the 200IM at five straight Europeans between 2010 and 2018 is a continental record for most consecutive victories in the same event.<\/p>\n
Hosszu remains European record-holder in the 200 and 400IM as well as the 200 fly, going 2:04.27 in the semis of the 2009 worlds before finishing third in the final.<\/p>\n
She enjoyed great success in the short-course pool with 17 titles among 27 medals on the world stage, the most individual golds in history ahead of Ryan Lochte (14). She also won 20 golds among 26 honours in European waters, an all-time continental record.<\/p>\n
She holds the European s\/c records in the 100 and 200 back and 100 and 200IM.<\/p>\n
Hosszu won the 200IM at eight consecutive long-course majors between 2013 and 2019, enjoying an incredible 67-race winning streak at FINA (now World Aquatics) and LEN (European Aquatics) events – including World Cups – during those years.<\/p>\n
She tops the all-time medal charts at the World Cup with 461 medals, 309 of them gold.<\/div>\n
In a post on social media, Hosszu said:\u00a0“I am announcing my retirement.<\/p>\n
“As I progressed in my swimming career I went from being a curious child to one of the most accomplished female swimmers ever. Each race I\u2019ve won was not only a testament to my hard work and dedication but also a reflection of the countless hours of training, the sacrifices made, and the unwavering support of my family and coaches. I will never forget the thrill of the race\u2014my adrenaline, as I stood on the starting block, the world faded away, only the sound of my heartbeat and the promise of the race remained.<\/p>\n
“I have learned valuable lessons throughout my career that went far beyond sports. Swimming taught me perseverance in the face of difficulties, the importance of discipline, and the beauty of teamwork. I have made lifelong friendships, we have laughed and cried together, I have experienced the joy of victories and the lessons of defeats. Each competition was a new chapter, an opportunity to push my limits and discover the depths of my potential.<\/p>\n
“As I reflect on my career, I feel a lot of fulfillment. Medals and records are valuable, but what has stayed at the bottom is my undying love for swimming. Even after I hung up the race suit, the water is still calling. I still find a lot of joy in the crash of tempo, the soft splashes and the peaceful solitude just below the surface.”<\/p>\n
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A post shared by Katinka Hosszu (@hosszukatinka)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n