Manaudou preparing 'long break' from swimming

BEIJING (AP) Former French gold medalist Laure Manaudou is preparing to take a "long break" from swimming after the Olympics.

"One month, sixth months, a year, we'll see," the 22-year-old Manaudou said Thursday after qualifying 10th in the 200 backstroke. "I want to spend more time with my family and my friends. I need a long break."

On Tuesday, following her second devastating defeat in two days, Manaudou had said she was contemplating quitting the swimming competition midway through.

She finished eighth - or last - in the 400 freestyle, more than eight seconds slower than the winner, Britain's Rebecca Adlington, then she placed seventh in the 100-meter backstroke.

These games have been a sharp contrast from Manaudou's breakthrough four years ago in Athens, when aged just 17, she brought home France's first swimming gold since Jean Boiteux in 1952, in the 400 freestyle.

"I'm going to take a long break to think about other things," she said, adding that she doesn't even want to think about next year's world championships in Rome.

Before the break, Manaudou will complete her final two events, the 200 back and 400 medley relay.

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