Declaring "once a Paralympian, always a Paralympian", record-breaking Australian swimmer Ellie Cole is going out on top.
The 29-year-old's international swimming career ended on Thursday night when won bronze as a member of the 4x100 medley relay team.
That, and her silver in the 4x100m freestyle relay, gave Cole 17 Paralympic medals - making her Australia's most decorated female Paralympian.
The six-time gold medallist has one more medal than fellow swimmer Priya Cooper, who won nine gold.
"It was such a special night ... It was nine days of gruelling competition. You always forget how tiring a Paralympics is," the four-time Paralympian told Channel Seven.
"But to be able to share my 17th medal with a relay team as well as to stand on the podium next to one of the all-time greatest swimmers in the whole Paralympic movement in (American) Jess Long, it was just such a fairytale ending to my Paralympic journey.
"I haven't stopped smiling, I'm so proud to be a Paralympian.
"Once a Paralympian, always a Paralympian and I have some very treasured memories of my time on this team."
