Katinka Hosszú facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Katinka Hosszú

Hosszú at the 2015 World Championships
Personal information
Nickname(s)	"Iron Lady"
Born	(1989-05-03) 3 May 1989 (age 36) Pécs, Hungary
Height	1.75 m
Weight	68 kg
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Freestyle, medley, backstroke, butterfly
Club	Iron Swim, Team Iron (ISL)
College team	University of Southern California
Medal record Women's swimming Representing  Hungary Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 3 1 0 World Championships (LC) 9 1 5 World Championships (SC) 17 8 2 European Championships (LC) 15 6 4 European Championships (SC) 20 4 2 Olympic Games Gold 2016 Rio de Janeiro 100 m backstroke Gold 2016 Rio de Janeiro 200 m medley Gold 2016 Rio de Janeiro 400 m medley Silver 2016 Rio de Janeiro 200 m backstroke World Championships (LC) Gold 2009 Rome 400 m medley Gold 2013 Barcelona 200 m medley Gold 2013 Barcelona 400 m medley Gold 2015 Kazan 200 m medley Gold 2015 Kazan 400 m medley Gold 2017 Budapest 200 m medley Gold 2017 Budapest 400 m medley Gold 2019 Gwangju 200 m medley Gold 2019 Gwangju 400 m medley Silver 2017 Budapest 200 m backstroke Bronze 2009 Rome 200 m butterfly Bronze 2009 Rome 200 m medley Bronze 2013 Barcelona 200 m butterfly Bronze 2015 Kazan 200 m backstroke Bronze 2017 Budapest 200 m butterfly World Championships (SC) Gold 2012 Istanbul 200 m butterfly Gold 2012 Istanbul 100 m medley Gold 2014 Doha 100 m backstroke Gold 2014 Doha 200 m backstroke Gold 2014 Doha 100 m medley Gold 2014 Doha 200 m medley Gold 2016 Windsor 100 m backstroke Gold 2016 Windsor 200 m backstroke Gold 2016 Windsor 100 m butterfly Gold 2016 Windsor 200 m butterfly Gold 2016 Windsor 100 m medley Gold 2016 Windsor 200 m medley Gold 2016 Windsor 400 m medley Gold 2018 Hangzhou 200 m butterfly Gold 2018 Hangzhou 100 m medley Gold 2018 Hangzhou 200 m medley Gold 2018 Hangzhou 400 m medley Silver 2012 Istanbul 200 m freestyle Silver 2012 Istanbul 200 m medley Silver 2014 Doha 200 m freestyle Silver 2014 Doha 200 m butterfly Silver 2014 Doha 400 m medley Silver 2016 Windsor 200 m freestyle Silver 2016 Windsor 50 m backstroke Silver 2018 Hangzhou 100 m backstroke Bronze 2012 Istanbul 400 m medley Bronze 2014 Doha 50 m backstroke European Championships (LC) Gold 2010 Budapest 200 m butterfly Gold 2010 Budapest 200 m medley Gold 2010 Budapest 4×200 m freestyle Gold 2012 Debrecen 200 m butterfly Gold 2012 Debrecen 200 m medley Gold 2012 Debrecen 400 m medley Gold 2014 Berlin 100 m backstroke Gold 2014 Berlin 200 m medley Gold 2014 Berlin 400 m medley Gold 2016 London 200 m backstroke Gold 2016 London 200 m medley Gold 2016 London 400 m medley Gold 2016 London 4×200 m freestyle Gold 2018 Glasgow 200 m medley Gold 2020 Budapest 400 m medley Silver 2008 Eindhoven 400 m medley Silver 2010 Budapest 400 m medley Silver 2012 Debrecen 4×200 m freestyle Silver 2014 Berlin 200 m freestyle Silver 2016 London 100 m backstroke Silver 2020 Budapest 200 m butterfly Bronze 2014 Berlin 200 m butterfly Bronze 2014 Berlin 4×200 m freestyle Bronze 2020 Budapest 200 m medley Bronze 2022 Rome 4×200 m freestyle European Championships (SC) Gold 2012 Chartres 200 m butterfly Gold 2012 Chartres 100 m medley Gold 2012 Chartres 200 m medley Gold 2013 Herning 200 m medley Gold 2015 Netanya 50 m backstroke Gold 2015 Netanya 100 m backstroke Gold 2015 Netanya 200 m backstroke Gold 2015 Netanya 100 m medley Gold 2015 Netanya 200 m medley Gold 2015 Netanya 400 m medley Gold 2017 Copenhagen 50 m backstroke Gold 2017 Copenhagen 100 m backstroke Gold 2017 Copenhagen 200 m backstroke Gold 2017 Copenhagen 100 m medley Gold 2017 Copenhagen 200 m medley Gold 2017 Copenhagen 400 m medley Gold 2019 Glasgow 200 m butterfly Gold 2019 Glasgow 100 m medley Gold 2019 Glasgow 200 m medley Gold 2019 Glasgow 400 m medley Silver 2012 Chartres 400 m medley Silver 2013 Herning 100 m medley Silver 2013 Herning 400 m medley Silver 2015 Netanya 400 m freestyle Bronze 2004 Vienna 400 m medley Bronze 2013 Herning 200 m backstroke

Katinka Hosszú (born May 3, 1989) is a Hungarian swimmer. She is famous for competing in many different swimming styles. Katinka has won three Olympic gold medals. She is also a nine-time world champion in long-course swimming.

Katinka is known as the "Iron Lady" because she is so strong and competes in many events. She even started her own swim school and club called Iron Swim Budapest. She also helped create Team Iron, a professional swim team.

During her career, Katinka held seven world records. She was the first swimmer ever to hold world records in all five individual medley events at the same time. She holds many Hungarian national records. Katinka was named the best female swimmer in the world by FINA in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018.

Katinka Hosszú competed in five Summer Olympics: 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020. In 2014, she became the first swimmer, male or female, to earn over a million dollars in prize money. In 2019, Forbes magazine called her the most valuable Hungarian athlete. She held this top spot for five years in a row. Katinka announced her retirement from swimming in January 2025.

About Katinka Hosszú

Katinka Hosszú was born in Pécs, Hungary. She grew up in Baja and learned to swim from her grandfather, László Bakos, until she was 13. She later went to the University of Southern California in the United States.

Becoming the Iron Lady

After the 2012 London Olympics, where she did not win any medals, Katinka felt very disappointed. She decided to ask her boyfriend, Shane Tusup, to become her coach. After this change, she competed in a World Cup swim meet in Beijing. She swam in 8 events and won 5 medals. Chinese newspapers called her "made out of iron," which led to her famous nickname, The Iron Lady. Katinka and Shane Tusup married in 2013. They later divorced in 2018.

In 2022, a movie about her life called "Katinka" was released. In August 2022, Katinka married Máté Layber-Gelencsér. In the summer of 2023, they welcomed their daughter, Kamília Layber-Gelencsér.

Katinka's Swimming Journey

Katinka Hosszú was known for being able to swim many different events very well, even in a short amount of time. For example, at a World Cup event in Hong Kong in 2014, she won 12 medals in just two days. This included 10 gold medals!

Katinka also helps the swimming community. She was one of 30 swimmers who started the Global Association of Professional Swimmers in 2017. She also works to make swimming competitions more exciting as an ambassador for the International Swimming League.

Early Career Highlights

Katinka first competed internationally at the 2004 Summer Olympics when she was 15. She won her first medal, a bronze, at the 2004 European Short Course Swimming Championships. At the 2005 European Junior Swimming Championships, she won three gold medals, two silver, and one bronze.

In 2008, she won her first medal in a long-course event at the 2008 European Aquatics Championships, a silver medal.

World Champion Success

At the 2009 World Aquatics Championships, Katinka won two bronze medals before becoming a World Champion in the 400-meter individual medley. She was named Hungarian Sportswoman of the Year for her amazing results.

In 2010, at the 2010 European Aquatics Championships in her home country, she won a silver medal and became a European Champion in three different events.

College Swimming Achievements

While at college in 2011, Katinka had an incredible season. She won three individual National Championships. She was named the best college swimmer of the year and received the Honda Sports Award. This award recognizes the top female college athlete in her sport.

Overcoming Challenges

After the 2012 Summer Olympics, some people suggested Katinka should stop swimming. But she decided not to give up. She worked hard with her new coach, Shane Tusup. In 2013, she wanted to prove herself after not winning medals at the Olympics. She competed in many events and earned her "Iron Lady" nickname. She won three medals at the World Championships and broke six world records during the World Cup series.

2013 World Championships

At the 2013 World Aquatics Championships, Katinka won two gold medals and one bronze. She chose to focus on the 200-meter individual medley final, which she won. She then won another gold in the 400-meter individual medley.

Katinka Hosszú in 2013

Breaking Records in 2014-2015

In 2014, Katinka broke several short course world records in backstroke and individual medley events. At the 2015 World Aquatics Championships in Kazan, she again swam in many races. She broke a world record in the 200-meter individual medley, swimming it in an amazing 2:06.12. She also won a bronze medal in the 200-meter backstroke and a gold medal in the 400-meter individual medley.

Hosszú (right), Emily Seebohm of Australia, and Missy Franklin of U.S in the victory ceremony of 2015 World Aquatics Championships

At the 2015 European Short Course Swimming Championships, Katinka won six gold medals. She broke world records in the 100- and 400-meter individual medleys.

Olympic Glory in 2016

Katinka Hosszú in Rio 2016

The 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro were a huge success for Katinka. She won three gold medals:

• 400-meter individual medley (breaking the world record)
• 200-meter individual medley (breaking the Olympic record)
• 100-meter backstroke

She also won a silver medal in the 200-meter backstroke. Katinka won more individual medals than any other swimmer at the 2016 Olympics.

Later in 2016, at the World Short Course Championships, she won a record 9 individual medals, including 7 gold medals.

Continuing Success

In 2017, Katinka won two more gold medals at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships in her home country, Hungary. She won the 200-meter and 400-meter individual medley events.

At the 2018 European Aquatics Championships, Katinka won gold in the 200-meter individual medley. This made her the first female swimmer to win the same event five times in a row at the European Championships.

In 2019, at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships, Katinka made history again. She became the first female swimmer to win four world titles in a row in the 200-meter individual medley. She also won the 400-meter individual medley, becoming the first woman to win five world titles in the same event. Only Michael Phelps has achieved this feat in swimming.

In November 2019, Katinka won her 300th gold medal overall at the FINA Swimming World Cup. She was also a co-captain for Team Iron in the International Swimming League.

Later Career and Retirement

At the 2020 European Aquatics Championships, Katinka became the female swimmer with the most medals in the history of the European Championships. She won one gold, one silver, and one bronze medal, bringing her total to 24 European medals.

The 2020 Summer Olympics (held in 2021 due to the pandemic) were challenging for Katinka. She did not win any medals. She later explained that the delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic affected her training and competition rhythm.

In the 2022 World Aquatics Championships and 2022 European Aquatics Championships, Katinka did not win individual medals, but she did win a bronze as part of Hungary's 4x200m freestyle relay team. After these championships, she mentioned that she likely would not compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Katinka Hosszú gave birth to her daughter in August 2023. A few months later, she started training again, hoping to compete in her sixth Olympics. However, she did not achieve the necessary qualifying times. In January 2025, Katinka Hosszú officially announced her retirement from competitive swimming.

See also

In Spanish: Katinka Hosszú para niños

• World record progression 100 metres backstroke
• World record progression 200 metres backstroke
• World record progression 100 metres individual medley
• World record progression 200 metres individual medley
• World record progression 400 metres individual medley
• List of European Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming (women)
• List of European Short Course Swimming Championships medalists (women)
• List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming (women)