Manaudou cites split with coach after announcing retirement

FRANCE'S Laure Manaudou has cited a split with her coach as the principal reason behind her decision to announce her retirement from swimming at the age of 22.

 CALLING TIME: Laure Manaudou announces her retirement from swimming aged 22

Manaudou is a former world, Olympic and European champion, but following a split with coach Phillippe Lucas in May 2007, she endured at nightmare Beijing 2008, finishing last in the 400m freestyle final.

She opted against competing in this year's World Championships in Rome and insists she has no intention of returning to the pool.

"It's decided. I'm stopping," Manaudou told Le Parisien. "This wasn't an easy decision to take.

"It's firmed itself up little by little. It's not an impulse decision. It's all developed slowly. I lost my desire when I left Philippe in 2007. I continued because the Olympic Games in Beijing were coming up.

"I realised later what I was feeling. I understood that it was at that moment that I lost the pleasure of swimming. It was less magical, more complicated."

After capturing 400m freestyle gold, as well as 800m freestyle silver and 100m backstroke bronze at Athens 2004, aged 17, Manaudou went on to secure three world and nine European titles.

"I have all the titles," added Manaudou. "I've had everything I wanted, even more than in my dreams.

"I have all the time to reflect on my future."