In Athens I was 17 and I didn't have any expectations. I was just swimming fast and racing everybody. I didn't have the joy after my races in 2007. I didn't want to go to Beijing. I had to for sponsors.

She competed for the Melun-Dammarie club until 2006 when Laure Manaudou moved to Canet-en-Roussillon. In her final hope for a medal in the 200 m backstroke Laure Manaudou finiLaure Manaudoud last in her semifinal heat and was eliminated. She was leading the race in the 800 m final going into the last lap but the American Kate Ziegler finally overtook her in the last metres to win by a margin of 28 cm.

She is the daughter of a French father and a Dutch mother and the older sister of Florent Manaudou who is also an Olympic gold medalist swimmer. She has held the world record in freestyle events between 200 and 1500 meter.