Hungarian swimmer Katinka Hosszu, nicknamed the "Iron Lady," announced her retirement from competitive swimming on Wednesday.

Katinka Hosszu of Hungary in action during the women's 400m individual medley final at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, July 25, 2021. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)

In a heartfelt message on social media, the 35-year-old expressed gratitude to all who supported her and reflected on the transformative journey the sport has provided.

"Now, as I look back on my career, I feel an immense sense of fulfillment. The medals and records are valuable, but what remains with me most deeply is my eternal love for swimming," she said.

Hosszu boasts an extraordinary list of achievements. She is a three-time Olympic champion, having won gold in the 200m and 400m individual medley, as well as the 100m backstroke at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Over the course of her career, she amassed 97 medals and left the pool holding the 200m individual medley world record of 2:06.12, cementing her status as one of the sport's all-time greats.