Laure Manaudou Attempts to Salvage Career

French swimmer Laure Manaudou is having a tough time both in and out of the pool. It's no secret that a public breakup, nude photos and sex tape rumors have sparked controversy for the Olympic champion. But the question is, with the 2008 Beijing Olympics quickly approaching, can Manaudou put her personal troubles behind her, and get her head in the game?

In Dunkrik, Monday, the French champion burst into tears after she was defeated in the 400-meter freestyle at a major championship. Her first defeat in about four years.

She secured her place in the Olympics with a time of four minutes 6.67 seconds, but still placed only third. Her current record in the event is 4:02.13, it was the previous world record until last month, when Federica Pellegrini of Italy clocked a time of 4:01.53 at the European championships.

After her defeat, Manaudou pulled out of the next day's 200 meter freestyle, which she also holds the world record for, killing her chances of competing in the event at this summer's Olympics.

It seems like this is just the climax to a bad year for the swimmer. Manaudou left Philippe Lucas, her coach for over six years, and joined the LaPresse Nuoto Club in Turin, to be closer to then boyfriend, swimmer Luca Marin.

She was fired by the Italian club three months later, for attitude problems. On top of that, Manaudou broke up with Marin, and returned to her local club, swimming under her older brother's guidance. She then left for a bigger club and a better coach.

When things seemed to be turning up for the 20-year-old swimmer, a controversy of epic proportions broke, as nude photos of Manaudou were released to the Internet and magazines.

This season has been a rocky one for the young swimmer. In an interview with Reuters, her coach Lionel Horter blames psychological problems for her poor performance, and hopes she can salvage the season before it's too late. "What we have to change is the level of pleasure she gets from swimming and change her way of life during the next three months," he said. Hopefully that works, and Manaudou can get back on track for Beijing.

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