Laure Manaudou was in her time one of the greatest French sportswomen of his generation. A true swimming prodigy, she shone brightly during the Athens Olympic Games in 2004. The native of Villeurbanne was barely 18 years old when all this sudden media coverage fell on him. A pressure that is not necessarily easy to manage.
While a documentary dedicated to him will soon be released on Canal Plusthe former swimming champion was present on the Clique set to promote it. Facing Mouloud Achour, Laure Manaudou spoke about her career and her journey in and outside the pools. The opportunity to return to a very painful event.
Laure Manaudou looks back on the history of the stolen photos
In 2007, while the swimmer is at the height of her gloryshe is preparing to participate in a European short course competition. It is at this moment that the unthinkable for her will happen. Her ex-boyfriend at the time decided to take revenge for their breakup by posting photos of her completely naked. Photos that will spread like wildfire on the internet and who will continue it for many years later.
“That moment, I remember, was at the European short course championship in 2007. I only thought of one thing, it was ‘But actually, I’m putting my family to shame’. Inside, everything is falling apart. Because I knew that at some point they were going to release these photos. It comes out when I’m competing. It’s complicated to live because to me it’s like rape ».
She wants to protect her daughter
This episode was experienced as a real trauma by Florent Manaudou’s big sister. Now aged 38, she is the mother of three children. She hopes that this experience can serve as an example to prevent them from repeating the same mistakes. Still facing Mouloud Achour, she confided how this weight had been heavy for her to bear. For 15 years, she regularly received insulting messages. She wants at all costs to protect her daughter from all these pitfalls.
” Today, it’s trivialized because it happens a lotbut at that time, actually, I was one of the first, I think. So if it can be of use to someone, so much the better. Today, I use it for prevention, especially with my daughter who will be 15 years old. We don’t see everything that’s going on in people’s heads and especially how it can affect a person.” A documentary on Laure Manaudou to watch next Sunday on Canal Plus.
