Katinka Hosszú, one of Hungary's most celebrated athletes and a three-time Olympic gold medalist, announced her retirement from competitive swimming, marking the end of an era in international swimming.

The 35-year-old athlete shared her decision via Facebook, expressing gratitude to those who have supported and cheered for her throughout her extensive career.

Hosszú's announcement, titled 'My Journey in Water,' offered a reflective glance at her storied career while emphasizing the life lessons she learned through the sport.

'Swimming taught me perseverance in the face of adversity, the importance of discipline, and the beauty of teamwork,' she wrote, hinting at a career defined by determination and resilience.

Her Olympic debut came in Athens in 2004 when she was just 15 years old.

Despite a challenging journey that saw her initially falter in Beijing in 2008 and narrowly miss a podium finish in London 2012, Hosszú's resilience paid off at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

There, she claimed gold in the 200m and 400m individual medleys and the 100m backstroke, setting a world record in her 400m medley triumph.

She also took silver in the 200m backstroke, solidifying her status as one of the all-time greats in the sport.

Hosszú's career was not solely defined by Olympic success.

Beginning with her first World Championship gold in 2009 in the 400m individual medley, she dominated the international swimming scene with nine long-course world titles.

This period included sweeping the medley events at the World Championships in Barcelona in 2013 and Kazan in 2015, where she also set a long-standing world record of 2:06.12 in the 200m medley.

Domestically, she became a beloved figure, winning twice in front of her home crowd at the 2017 World Championships in Budapest, which she described as a more significant achievement than her Olympic gold medals.

Her career was punctuated by the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju, where she again took both medley titles under the guidance of coach Árpád Petrov.

In 2016, she launched her swimming club, Iron Swim Budapest, a nod to her moniker, 'Iron Lady.' Off the pool deck, her life and career were encapsulated in the 2022 biographical film 'Katinka,' although notably absent was her former husband and coach, Shane Tusup, instrumental in her early successes.

As Hosszú hangs up her competitive suit, she intends to channel her experience and passion into teaching and encouraging young swimmers, aiming to instill in them the values she holds dear.

'For me, swimming is not just a sport; it's a lifelong journey filled with love, growth, and the pursuit of excellence,' said Hosszú, as she embraces the next chapter of her life.

Her decision to retire comes after competing at the 2022 World Championships in Budapest and later in Rome at the European Championships, where she clinched her 97th medal as part of the 4x200m relay team.

Although she aimed for a sixth Olympic appearance in Paris 2024, the qualifying times eluded her at 35.

Katinka Hosszú leaves behind a legacy of excellence, serving as an inspiration for aspiring athletes worldwide, and her contributions to the world of swimming will be celebrated for years to come.