“A thousand miles from what we experienced”: Laure and Florent Manaudou confide in their parents, it surprises and it stings

Laure and Florent Manaudou are among the most famous sportsmen in France. During a joint interview, they returned to their family relationship, particularly with their parents.

© Bruno Bebert Florent Manaudou and his sister Laure Manaudou

IN BRIEF

• Laure and Florent Manaudou gave a joint interview in Le Parisien Week-end.
• They grew up in a close-knit family, but missed of tenderness.
• Laure Manaudou's parents were unable to be present at a very significant event in her career.

Laure and Florent Manaudou are athletes whose reputation is well established. Although they are world-famous, they remain rather discreet about their private lives. However, during a cross-interview in Le Parisien Week-End,the brothers and sisters let themselves go to some confidences about their childhood. They are, to say the least, surprising.

In total, the two champions have nearly 70 medals. An impressive record which has earned them some sacrifices. Laure Manaudou notably left the family home at the age of 14 to focus on her career. Although they grew up in a close-knit family, the swimmers explain that their parents were not always present during the important events in their lives.

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Laure and Florent Manaudou: their parents are not pillars

Laure and Florent Manaudou display a great bond. Nevertheless, they do not consider their parents to be pillars: “Our parents love us and I love them. But to say that the family is a pillar, that would be a million miles from what we have experienced”, confides the champion. “In fact, the family is divided into two blocks: my parents and my brothers. My pillar at me, it's the latter”, continues his elder.

Throughout their careers, the two swimmers have also been able to count on their brother Nicolas. The oldest of the siblings also officiates in sports… And is also passionate about swimming. Unlike the other two, we find him on the other side of the pool. He is in fact a sports coach.He has always been a staunch supporter of his juniors: “When I went through difficult times in my career, it was Nico who coached me. He did the same with Florent (…) We wouldn't have arrived at the highest level without him”, says Laure.

“I needed hugs and signs of tenderness”

While the siblings have always been united, they deplore a lack of tender gestures from their parents. A gap that they both filled in the corridors of Olympic swimming pools: “When I was swimming, I was looking for people's love and their recognition. I needed hugs and signs of tenderness“, says Laure. His brother confirms “Me too, Ie seek the affection of the public when I am in the pool”.

Indeed, the Manaudous were “éeducated in modesty”. Some subjects related to their childhood still seem painful. For example, Laure Manaudou says that neither her parents nor her brothers were present at her race at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, due to lack of means. Perhaps out of superstition, they did not attend any of their other competitions except in Paris. “It is a subject that still stings”, says the swimmer.