Swimming Community Emotional as ‘Iron Lady’ Hangs Up Her Goggles for Good

There are only a few athletes in the world who are considered legends of their sport. Katinka Hosszu would definitely be one of them. Owner of two-thirds of the Hungarian national records, this swimming icon has been an inspiration to generations of athletes. But all good runs come to an end, and Hosszu now looks at a life beyond the swimming pool. Naturally, fans are here to celebrate the incredible career of the 35-year-old.

Hosszu, known as “Iron Lady” in the swimming community, made her debut at the age of 15 at the 2004 Athens Olympics. While she didn’t medal there, over the next two decades, she has become one of the greatest swimming stars of all time. 4 Olympic and 26 World Championships gold medals later, Katinka is easily a Hungarian icon. For understandable reasons, her latest announcement has the fans once again show up with love.

On January 8, Hosszu took to Instagram to bid goodbye to her professional career. “I am announcing my retirement,” she wrote, noting her thanks to the fans for sticking with her through the years. “For thirty years, water was my home, a sanctuary where I found solace and strength,” read the post further, as the University of Southern California alum shared some of her greatest achievements and favorite moments.

“I’m not an early bird, never have been. But in my whole life, you were the only one who made me wake up at four or quarter past five when you were swimming in the Rio Olympics,” wrote a fan, remembering how overwhelming it was to see Hosszu bag gold at the tournament. Another fan hailed her saying, “You will always be an IronLady :)!!!”

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