Sydney, Australia -- (Sports Network) - Australian Grant Hackett has decided to hang up his goggles. Hackett retires as one of the most decorated Australian swimmers.

Hackett, who is the only swimmer in history to win the same event at four consecutive World Championships, currently owns the 1,500-meter record of 14 minutes, 34.56 seconds he achieved at the 2001 world championships in Japan. The 28-year-old Hackett is also the holder of the world record in the 800 (7:38.65) and held the world mark for the 200 freestyle in 1999, until it was topped by fellow countryman Ian Thorpe.

He captured two gold medals at the 2000 Olympics, a gold and two silver in 2004 and a silver and a bronze in 2008. The standout Australian swimmer also earned 10 gold medals at the world championships.

Hackett, who is the two-time Telstra Australian Swimmer of the Year, has earned 10 gold, six silver and two bronze at five FINA World Championships.