Australia's Grant Hackett announces retirement

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's Grant Hackett announced his retirement from swimming on Monday, ending a career in which he established himself as one of the greatest long-distance swimmers of all time.

"I have been doing this for a long time... and it is now all just a memory for me," the 28-year-old said at the Australian swimmer of the year awards.

During more than a decade of international competition, Hackett won seven Olympic medals, including three gold, plus 18 world championship medals, featuring 10 golds, and currently holds the world record for 800 and 1500 meters freestyle.

He finished a close second behind Tunisia's Oussama Mellouli in the 1500 final at the Beijing Olympics two months ago in what was his last race.

(Reporting by Julian Linden, Editing by Justin Palmer)