Australia’s most successful Paralympian, swimmer Matt Cowdrey, has announced his retirement.

Cowdrey, who won 13 Paralympic gold medals, says quitting the sport was a tough decision.

• Kurt Fearnley wins New York marathon 

“I have achieved more than I could have dreamt of, and more than I set out achieve,” the 26-year-old said on Tuesday.

“I have come to the realisation that the majority of my goals sit outside of the pool.”

Cowdrey, who was born with a congenital amputation to his lower left arm and started swimming aged five, won 23 medals at three Paralympic Games.

He was victorious in his pet events, the 100m freestyle and 200m individual medley, at three consecutive Paralympics and is also a multiple world record holder.