Manaudou plans long break after Beijing

AFP-Laure Manaudou, once the golden girl of French swimming, says she plans to take a long break after the Beijing Olympics.

These Games have so far been desperately disappointing for the 21-year-old, the first French female swimmer to win Olympic gold when she captured the 400 metres freestyle title in Athens four years ago.

But in Beijing, the defence of her crown ended with Manaudou trailing in last in the 400m freestyle final, won by Britain's Rebecca Adlington, and then breaking down in tears.

It was a similar story in the 100m backstroke where, having claimed bronze in Athens, she finished in seventh place and more than a second behind champion Natalie Coughlin.

Although she qualified for the semi-finals of the 200m backstroke, considered to be her weakest event, on Thursday, Manaudou was already thinking about life after Beijing.

"I don't know exactly what I am going to do (after the Olympics) but I am going to take a long break and think about something else," said Manaudou, who has endured a torrid year both in and out of the pool.

"For how long, I don't know. It could be one month, six months, a year. But I am definitely going to think about something else and spend more time with my family and friends, especially Esther (Baron, a swimmer who didn't qualify for the Games), who is not here.

She added: "I really want to see all those who are close to me and weren't able to be here with me."

Manaudou, who admitted she gave up in the 400m freestyle final, has seen her private life become a staple of French gossip columns.

In March she lost her 400m freestyle world record and European title to Federica Pellegrini - the 200m freestyle champion in Beijing - she also lost her swimmer boyfriend Luca Marin to her Italian rival.

Compromising images of Manaudou then emerged on the internet, with Italy's Marin denying suggestions he was responsible.

Manaudou subsequently lost her French 400m freestyle title to younger team-mate Coralie Balmy.