The fame that swimming success has brought to Laure Manaudou has not been without its negatives. Her Olympic gold medal in the 400 meters freestyle represented swimming success for France. It had been fifty two years since France won its last Olympic gold medal in swimming. The success also meant that Laure Manaudou lost her privacy.
Laure Manaudou’s decisions and private life were scrutinized constantly. There were scandalous photos placed on the internet. And the fodder for the tabloids was not countered by success at the Beijing Olympics.
Now, Laure Manaudou is retiring:
“… “It’s decided, I’m stopping,” the 22-year-old Frenchwoman, whose turbulent life meant she never left the headlines, told Friday’s issue of French daily Le Parisien.
“Since January, I learned how to look after myself,” she added. “I’m enjoying the life I couldn’t have before. It’s silly but taking time to make up or comb my hair are things I could hardly do when I swam twice a day.”
link: France’s darling Manaudou retires at 22
Laure Manaudou might be leaving competitive swimming. However, it is unlikely that she will escape the interest of the European media. The privacy that she seeks may take years to find.
Catherine Forsythe
[Photo via Newscom]
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