Letter To Kamilia: Katinka Hosszu’s Path Aiming For Her 6th OG, From Her Perspective

This article originally appeared in the 2024 Swimsuit issue of SwimSwam Magazine. At that time Katinka Hosszu was looking for qualifying for her 6th Olympic Games after giving birth her first child, Kamilia.    Subscribe for the Magazine here.

LETTER TO KAMILIA

By Katinka Hosszu and Aglaia Pezzato

Dear Kamilia,

As I write this letter, which is for you but perhaps also a bit for me, you smile at me from the bed in a hotel room. We all came this time. The whole family moved for this training camp because that’s the only way we can try to make this new dream come true.

Everything has changed since you came into my life, more than I could have imagined.

Of course, I thought I knew what would happen to my body, my days, and my life after your birth, but when it actually happens, everything is different. It’s stronger, truer, as concrete as your little hand that clings to my shirts.

The order of priorities has revolutionized my days. Before, it was about me, my needs, my schedule, my routine, and my hobbies. I planned my days as an athlete, thinking about not getting too tired, and integrating energies.

Now, Kam, you are not just my priority; you are the only thing that matters.

One day, when you are older, you will discover that the person you simply call “Anya” has spent much of her life competing in the most beautiful pools in the world. For the others, your mom is named Katinka Hosszu and, for many years, she carried the nickname Iron Lady.

This nickname was born somewhat by chance, but I loved it from the start. It’s not just a cool way to headline newspapers — it’s a message for all athletes.

We can push the limits a little further and do what seems impossible. We are stronger than we think. We can do incredible things, like competing in all events, holding almost all the national records simultaneously, winning almost 100 international medals, and returning to compete at a high level, as a mom.

I don’t know if I’ll succeed, but I’m trying, and I’m loving the journey we’ve undertaken. It was a family decision, without Dad and grandparents’ support, none of this would be possible. They told me, “Go for it,” and so I am.

My career, regardless of how this pursuit toward Paris 2024 goes, has been filled with successes, victories, and satisfaction. And I’m not talking about medals and world records (you can read about those in Wikipedia), but I’m talking about friends, people who supported me, places I’ve learned to know like second homes, smiles from people in the stands, the spontaneous roar when the speaker announced my name. These are the victories I carry in my heart, and the ones I will tell you about with more joy.

Water is a special world, and you are beginning to discover it too as you enjoy your bath every night. It is a place where I have always felt I could be who I wanted to be, even an Iron Lady — which is not who I am, but who I can be.

There will be time, if you’re curious, to watch videos of when Mom won gold at the Olympics or broke her first world record. But let me tell you about the most beautiful memory I have, one you won’t find in any video or photograph. My fondest memory, when I close my eyes and think of the sound of the water, is with my grandfather, your great-grandfather. He taught me how to swim and was my coach until I was 14. Everything I know, all the love I have for swimming, I owe to him. Even though he’s no longer here, I cherish the memories of the time we spent together.

How happy he would be to teach you to swim, Kamilia.

Many people ask me if you will become a swimmer, too. I don’t know. It will be fun in 15 or 20 years to read this letter again and see how things went. Surely, you will do sports, you’ll choose what you like, and learn the rules of the game because sports taught me the importance of hard work and patience.

A lot of patience.

In 2009, I swam 4:30 in the 400 IM for the first time and, from there, I promised myself to swim as many times as I could below that time, breaking the invisible wall of four and a half minutes. It took me 7 years and an infinite number of 400 IMs before I succeeded.

If you decide to swim, we will accompany you step by step but, if not, that’s okay too. What your dad and I want for you is to know that we’ve given you all the tools to go out into the world and be fine. To have the confidence to make your choices consciously. To have the certainty of a family’s love that will let you make mistakes and help you start over.

I finish writing as you wake up from your nap. My hair is still wet from the last training session, and my sweatshirt is a bit dirty from the last feeding. It won’t be an easy journey, but it isn’t for any mom.

We, Kamilia, are happy like this.

Yours,

Iron Mommy