Laure Manaudou is Today's pick as one of the Most Beautiful Women in Sports

Laure Manaudou is this Wednesday's pick as one of the most beautiful women in sports.  Manaudou is a swimmer from France that was the center of attention not only for her swimming but her picture controversy.


Laure Manaudou


Born October 9, 1986 in Villeurbanne, Rhone, France

Olympic Swimmer from France


Laure won the Gold Medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens in the 400 meter freestyle.  It was France's first gold medal ever in women's swimming and the first gold medal in swimming for France since 1952.

In 2006 Manaudou set the world record for the 400 meter freestyle at the European Swimming Championships.  Laure also won the 200 individual medley and the 100 meter backstroke.


Laure broke the 200 meter freestyle world record at the 2007 World Swimming Championships in Melborne.


In 2007 Manaudou won four medals at the 2007 European Championships even though she was having a spat with her Italian boyfriend Luca Martin.  The same day lewd pictures of Laure appeared on the Internet.

At the 2008 Summer Olympics Manaudou finished eighth in the 400 meter freestyle and was eliminated in the 200 meter backstroke.
In 2009 Laure announced her retirement, however, in 2011 she returned to competition setting a personal best in the 50 meter freestyle.

For more pictures of Laure visit the swimming page.