Katinka Hosszú, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the most celebrated swimmers in history, has announced her retirement at the age of 35. The legendary athlete, known worldwide as the ‘Iron Lady,’ shared the news on her Facebook page, offering reflections on a remarkable career that spanned three decades.
‘For thirty years, water was my home—a sanctuary where I found peace and strength. From the moment I first stepped into the pool as a child, I knew I had discovered something magical,’ she wrote.
Hosszú’s journey began in 2003 when she debuted in senior competition. Just a year later, she competed in the Athens Olympics. Her first major success came in 2008 at the European Championships in Eindhoven, where she secured a silver medal in the 400-metre individual medley.
Her ascent continued at the 2009 World Championships in Rome, where she claimed gold in the same event while training under coach Dave Salo in the United States. Despite a setback at the 2012 London Olympics, where she finished fourth in the 400-metre medley, Hosszú bounced back stronger.
Teaming up with her then-husband and coach Shane Tusup, Hosszú entered what she called her ‘golden era’. Adopting an intensive competition schedule, she dominated the swimming world, particularly at the 2015 World Championships in Kazan, where she set a world record in the 200-metre individual medley with a time of 2:06.12—a record that still stands today.
At the Rio 2016 Olympics, Hosszú lived up to her reputation as a dominant force in swimming. She clinched gold in both medley events, breaking the world record in the 400-metre medley, and added another gold in the 100-metre backstroke, alongside a silver in the 200-metre backstroke.
These victories earned her a slew of accolades, including being named Hungary’s Female Athlete of the Year five times and receiving the European Athlete of the Year award in 2016—the first Hungarian to win the latter since Krisztina Egerszegi in 1992.
Hosszú’s career faced hurdles, including the end of her partnership with Tusup in 2018 and disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Nevertheless, she continued to excel, winning dual golds in the medley events at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju under coach Árpád Petrov.
Though the Tokyo 2021 Olympics brought a fifth-place finish, Hosszú remained one of swimming’s most formidable competitors. Over her career, she set 20 world records and amassed 321 gold medals on the World Cup circuit, a tally that cements her status as the all-time leader.
Reflecting on her career, Hosszú expressed gratitude for the journey: ‘The medals and records are precious, but what remains deepest is my eternal love for swimming. Even after hanging up my competition suit, the water still calls to me.’
Hosszú now looks forward to inspiring the next generation. ‘I hope to share my passion with young swimmers, teaching them the magic I found in the water and encouraging them to chase their dreams. For me, swimming was not just a sport—it was a lifelong journey filled with love, growth, and the pursuit of excellence,’ she wrote.
With 17 golds at short-course world championships and an unmatched contribution to Hungarian swimming, Hosszú’s legacy is undeniable. As she transitions into the next phase of her life, she leaves behind a trailblazing example of perseverance, passion, and unparalleled achievement in the pool.
Related articles:
