Hosszú Katinka, Hungary's celebrated swimming champion, has announced her retirement from the sport that has defined her life for the past three decades.

The three-time Olympic gold medalist and holder of numerous world records made her decision public through a heartfelt message posted on her Facebook page.

'For thirty years, water was my home, a sanctuary where I found peace and strength,' Hosszú reflected in her announcement, sharing the profound impact swimming has had on her life.

Hosszú's career began in earnest in 2003 when she entered the adult competitive swimming scene, taking her to the Athens Olympics the following year.

Her breakthrough came at the 2008 European Championships in Eindhoven, where she clinched a silver medal in the 400-meter individual medley.

Under the guidance of coach Dave Salo, she secured her first world victory in the same event at the 2009 World Championships in Rome.

The 2012 European Championships in Debrecen marked another highlight as she swept three gold medals and headed to the London Olympics as a strong contender.

However, after finishing fourth in her favored 400-meter individual medley in London, she parted ways with Salo and began working with her then future-husband Shane Tusup.

This collaboration sparked a golden era in her career, as Hosszú revolutionized her training regime to feature an intensive competition schedule that saw her dominate World Cup events and collect medals prolifically.

Hosszú's pinnacle achievement came at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Arriving as the favorite, she excelled in the individual medley events, shattering the world record in the 400-meter category, and surprising even herself by winning the gold in the 100-meter backstroke while securing silver in the 200-meter backstroke.

The subsequent years saw her being honored repeatedly as an athlete, notably being named Hungary's Female Athlete of the Year five times and earning Europe's Female Athlete of the Year award from the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) — an accolade not claimed by a Hungarian since Krisztina Egerszegi in 1992.

In a pivotal career moment, she triumphed again at the 2017 World Championships in Budapest, solidifying her status as the sport's top star.

However, a significant personal and professional shift occurred in 2018 with her split from Tusup, after which she briefly partnered with coach Árpád Petrov.

Under Petrov, she reclaimed her world champion titles at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought a disruptive pause to her career, and at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics held in 2021, she managed a commendable fifth place.

Hosszú's illustrious career also includes remarkable performances in the 25-meter pool, where she racked up a staggering 17 golds, 8 silvers, and 2 bronzes at the World Short Course Championships — contributing almost 60 percent of Hungary's total short course medal tally.

With her retirement, Hosszú leaves behind a legacy marked by 20 world records and a commanding lead in the all-time rankings of World Cup medals with 321 golds.

Her impending retirement from competitive swimming closes an extraordinary chapter, yet she expresses her passion for the sport and its future.

'I hope to share this passion with others — teaching young swimmers the magic I found in the water and encouraging them to follow their dreams,' Hosszú concluded in her farewell.

Hosszú Katinka leaves behind a storied career that has not only brought her personal fulfillment and widespread recognition but has also significantly elevated the status of Hungarian swimming on the international stage.

The void she leaves in competitive swimming is vast, and her legacy as one of the greatest female swimmers will endure for generations to come.