Laure Manaudou is a swimmer who has competed for France. She competed at the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
At her first Games in 2004, Manaudou set a historic mark as the first French woman to win an Olympic gold in swimming, when she topped the field in the 400 metres freestyle with a European record (4:05.34). She also became the first French swimmer to attain such feat since Jean Boiteux's victory on the men's side at Helsinki 1952. She also won a bronze in the 100 metres backstroke and added a silver in the 800 metres freestyle five days later. The feat made Manaudou the second French woman to have received three medals in a single edition.
Beijing 2008 turned out to be a deception for Manaudou as she struggled to reach her peak from Athens. When she reached two Olympic finals (400 metres freestyle and 100 metres backstroke), she failed to attain a medal in either of her races. On 17 September, 2009, Manaudou retired from competitive swimming until she returned two years later.
At London 2012, Manaudou swam the backstroke double (100 and 200) and the medley relay races. Although she failed to advance from the heats in all of her races, she watched her younger brother Florent Manaudou score a surprising gold in the men's 50 metres freestyle and embraced him after the victory. She and Florent set another record as the first-ever set of siblings to claim Olympic gold medals.
Olympic Results[]
| Year | Event | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Women's 400m freestyle | 
|
| Women's 800m freestyle | 
| |
| Women's 100m backstroke | 
| |
| 2008 | Women's 400m freestyle | 8th |
| Women's 100m backstroke | 7th | |
| Women's 200m backstroke | 15th | |
| 2012 | Women's 100m backstroke | 22nd |
| Women's 200m backstroke | 30th | |
| Women's 4x100m medley relay | 15th |
2004[]
| Discipline | Round | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400 metres freestyle | Heats | 4:06.76 | |
| Final | 4:05.34 | AR | |
| 800 metres freestyle | Heats | 8:25.91 | |
| Final | 8:24.96 | ||
| 100 metres backstroke | Heats | 1:01.27 | |
| Semifinal | 1:00.88 | ||
| Final | 1:00.88 |
2008[]
| Discipline | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 400 metres freestyle | Heats | 4:04.93 |
| Final | 4:11.26 | |
| 100 metres backstroke | Heats | 1:00.09 |
| Semifinal | 1:00.19 | |
| Final | 1:00.10 | |
| 200 metres backstroke | Heats | 2:09.39 |
| Semifinal | 2:12.04 | |
| Final | Did not advance |
2012[]
| Discipline | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 100 metres backstroke | Heats | 1:01.03 |
| Semifinal | Did not advance | |
| Final | ||
| 200 metres backstroke | Heats | 2:14.29 |
| Semifinal | Did not advance | |
| Final | ||
| 4x100 metres medley relay | Heats | 4:05.53 (1:01.09 split) |
| Final | Did not advance |