Legendary U.S. swimmer Natalie Coughlin in images

May 14, 2012; Dallas, TX, USA; Team USA women's swimmer Natalie Coughlin during a portrait session at the 2012 Team USA Media Summit at the Hilton Anatole. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

A true Hall of Famer

Mar 7, 2016; Los Angeles, USA; USA swimmer Natalie Coughlin poses for a portrait during the 2016 Team USA Media Summit at the Beverly Hilton. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

When it comes to iconic prowess in the pool, few can match the career that Coughlin achieved during her run. She won 60 medals in international competitions—25 gold—and was a 12-time Olympic medallist. She broke records. She broke barriers. Simply put, Coughlin holds her own wing in the halls of great U.S. female athletes.

Natalie Coughlin

This picture taken with an underwater camera shows silver medallist Natalie Coughlin of the US competing in the women's 100m freestyle final at the 2015 Pan American Games on July 14, 2015 in Toronto, Canada. AFP PHOTO / DAMIEN MEYER (Photo credit should read DAMIEN MEYER/AFP via Getty Images)

Natalie Coughlin

Natalie Coughlin of the US walks off the pool deck after the Women's 4x100 Medley Relay Preliminaries at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada July 18, 2015. AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)

Natalie Coughlin

DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 02: Natalie Coughlin of USA, Emily Seebohm of Australia and Katinka Hosszu of Hungary celebrate on the podium after the women's 50m Backstroke final during day one of the FINA World Swimming Cup 2015 at the Hamad Aquatic Centre on November 2, 2015 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

Natalie Coughlin

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - MARCH 07: Swimmer Natalie Coughlin poses for a portrait at the 2016 Team USA Media Summit at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on March 7, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)