Through the documentary Laura, Laura, Laura of Canal+ dedicated to Laure Manaudou, the ex-swimmer and her emblematic trainer, Philippe Lucas, looked back on the day when they stopped working together.
It’s an emblem of French sport! On the occasion of a new documentary dedicated to the strong faces of French sport, Canal+ took an interest in the glorious career of Laure Manaudou. In Laura, Laura, Laurabroadcast this Sunday, January 19, the encrypted channel looked back on the sporting prowess achieved by Florent Manaudou's sister, but also on her very exposed public life at the time. The ex-swimmer also returned to the end of her collaboration with Philippe Lucas, her historic coach. The latter was also able to give his version of the story.
“I break his finger“: Philippe Lucas remembers a big argument with an Italian agent
In 2007, the break between Laure Manaudou and Philippe Lucas, her longtime coach, was pronounced. In a relationship with Italian swimmer Luca Marin, the young woman then wanted to go to Italy. There, an organization led by a certain Marco Durante, called The Presswants to engage all the most promising swimmers. Philippe Lucas remembers a stormy meeting with the director, when he accompanied Laure Manaudou home after the recording of Looking forward to Sunday. “There was the Italian, Lucas Marin, and his bodyguard. The Italian goes outside, we get confused and I break his finger“, he remembers. While he calls the municipal police to resolve the dispute, no more news from Laure Manaudou. “She left in the night“, he continues.
-“I was afraid he would catch me“: Laure Manaudou justifies her sudden departure to Italy
In the documentary, Laure Manaudou returns to this event and justifies what could be considered as a runaway. “I left without telling him. I was afraid he would catch me“, she attests. She gives more details, further on in the subject: “I no longer wanted to train with Philippe, I no longer wanted to endure the 16 kilometers per day, and love guided my choices at that moment“, she remembers, then living in Turin. Today, without being more friendly than that, the relationship between the two has calmed down. “I did what I wanted and Philippe was mad at me“, concludes Laure Manaudou.
