Hungary finished the Championships with four medals.Continue reading
Three-time Olympic, 26-time world, and 35-time European champion swimmer Katinka Hosszú announced her retirement on her Facebook page on Wednesday evening.
In the post, she wrote that “for thirty years, water was my home, a sanctuary where I found solace and strength. From the moment I first set foot in the pool as a child, I knew I had discovered something magical. The cool embrace of the water was like returning home, a place where gravity ceased to exist and each arm stroke brought me closer to my dreams.” Later on, as she progressed in her swimming career, she managed to become one of the most accomplished female swimmers ever.
“Each race I won was not only a testament to my hard work and dedication, but also a reflection of the many hours of training, the sacrifices I made, and the unwavering support of my family and coaches.
I will never forget the thrill of the race – my adrenaline as I stood on the starting line, the world faded away, leaving only the sound of my heartbeat and the promise of the race.”
According to the Hungarian athlete, often referred to as the ‘Iron Lady,’ her career has taught her valuable lessons that have extended far beyond sport. “Swimming taught me perseverance in the face of adversity, the importance of discipline, and the beauty of teamwork. I made lifelong friendships, shared laughs and tears, and experienced the joy of victory and the lessons of defeat. Each race was a new chapter, an opportunity to push my limits and discover the depths of my potential.”
Now, as I look back on my career, I feel a huge sense of fulfillment. The medals and records are precious, but what remains most profound is my undying love for swimming.
Even after hanging up my racing suit, the water still beckons. I still find a lot of joy in the slap of the arms, the soft splashes and the peaceful solitude I feel beneath the surface.” Katinka Hosszú added that in the coming years, she hopes to share this passion with others, teaching young swimmers the magic she found in the water. “For me, swimming is more than a sport; it is a lifelong journey filled with love, growth, and the pursuit of excellence. As I immerse myself in each new day, I take with me the lessons I have learned and the eternal belief in the sport,” she concluded.
The swimmer has set 20 world records in her career, winning 321 gold, 83 silver, and 69 bronze medals at World Cups, which puts her at the top of the all-time rankings, reports Nemzeti Sport. Hosszú has been named Hungarian Swimmer of the Year eight times, Hungarian Sportswoman of the Year seven times, and is an honorary citizen of Budapest and Baja. She has been named the best female swimmer of the year four times by the World Aquatics (formerly FINA) and five times by the European organization LEN.
She won her first Hungarian title in the 400m medley at the age of 14 in 2003.
In 2004, she competed at the Athens Olympics, where she finished 31st in the 200 freestyle and won a gold medal in the 200 freestyle relay at the European Youth Championships. That year she won her first ever adult medal at the international level, finishing third in the 400 medley at the European Championships.
The real breakthrough came at the 2009 World Championships in Rome, where she won bronze medals in the 200 medley and 200 butterfly, and then won the 400 medley with a world and European record. Another world championship medal came four years later when she triumphed in the 200 and 400 medley in Barcelona, and defended this title in Kazan in 2015.
Hosszú went to the Rio Olympics as a favorite, where she won the 200 and 400 medley and triumphed in the 100m backstroke, finishing second in the 200 back. She won the 400 medley with a huge world record.
The now 35-year-old has continued to deliver great results after three Olympic titles, finishing second in the 200 back and third in the 200 butterfly at the 2017 World Championships in Budapest, in addition to her gold medals in the 200 and 400 medley, and defending her third title in her main event two years later in Gwangju.
She is the first athlete to hold the world record in all five medley swimming events (200 m, 400 m in the big pool, 100 m, 200 m, and 400 m in the short course) at the same time.
She married her coach, Máté Gelencsér, in 2022, and their first child, Kamília Layber-Gelencsér, was born in August 2023.
Featured photo via Facebook/Katinka Hosszu