Daniel Kowalski has announced his retirement from swimming.

He quite rightly received recognition for his remarkable sporting career. Had it not coincided with that of Kieren Perkins, he may well have been one of our greatest ever.

As it is, a Sydney Olympics relay gold medal, a 1500m silver from Atlanta and bronze in the 200m and 400m means Kowalski retires a true champion.

He also bows out as an outstanding sportsman. He was willing to support his teammates and fought back from injuries and illness such as galandular fever, a further viral infection, food poisoning, serious shoulder injury and neck injury.

"Killer" Kowalski has done it all with dignity and never used his injuries as an excuse for anything. He earned and deserved his success and can rightly look back on his career with pride.