Jędrzejczak is one of Poland's most successful swimmers having won gold at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games in the 200 metres butterfly event, as well as two silvers in the 400m freestyle and 100m butterfly.

Either side of these Games, the Pole won gold at the 2003 and 2005 World Championships in the 200m butterfly, while collecting a staggering eight gold medals across the long and short course European Championships.

During the ceremony in Poland, Jędrzejczak was handed a gift of flowers alongside a huge cake depicting the gold medal she won at the 2004 Olympics

"Today marks 25 years since the moment when I first jumped into a swimming pool," the 30-year-old recalled.

"At some point you need to leave the stage."

Otylia Jędrzejczak won three medals at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games including gold in the 200m butterfly ©Getty Images



Despite an incredible career in the pool, which also saw her break the 200m butterfly world record three times, Jędrzejczak was also involved in a tragic car accident in 2005 which saw her 19-year-old brother killed while she was behind the drivers' wheel.

The accident prompted a highly-publicised court case, with Jedrzejczak ultimately given community service and nine months of probation.

Upon her return to the pool in 2006, she finished first in the European Championships in Budapest in both the 200m freestyle and 200m butterfly, while also picking up a second place finish in the 4x200m relay.

Her career began to filter out from there and, despite breaking the 200m butterfly world record in 2007, she failed to impress at Beijing 2008, finishing fourth in her favoured 200m butterfly event.

After returning from Beijing, Jędrzejczak claimed she probably would quit the career as a professional swimmer.

But qualified for London 2012 in the 100m and 200m butterfly.

There, she swam a time of 59.31sec in her 100m heat, and did not qualify for the semi-finals.

As her commitment in the pool began to lessen, Jędrzejczak has taken up study at the Russian International Olympic University where she has been learning all about the Olympic Movement, the Olympic spirit and the organisation of the Olympic Games.

As part of her Master of Sport Administration course, the swimmer was invited to observe first-hand the complex logistical operations behind the organisation of the 2014 Sochi Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, along with 26 others from the course.

Talking on her retirement during the ceremony, Andrzej Kowalski, President of the Polish Swimming Federation, claimed Jedrzejczak's decsion to retire did not mean than she was bidding farewell to the world of swimming.

"She will be an ambassador for Polish swimming," he said.

"We think she will be an excellent example for young people."

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