Olympchicks: Laure Manaudou Wins 200m Backstroke In Athens, GA

Monday, July 18, 2011

Laure Manaudou Wins 200m Backstroke In Athens, GA

France's Laure Manaudou, Olympic champion and world return to competition after an absence of nearly two years, won his second race in Athens (Georgia), swimming the 200 backstroke in 2'10 "20, more than 2" in less than great rival to the U.S. at the meeting, the American Megan Romano. The time clocked by the Olympic is higher by almost 4 "in his personal record (2'06" 64), established in the French championships in 2008. The 200 backstroke is the second final Manaudou won by the meeting in Athens after the 200 freestyle. Also in that race, recording a time of 1'59 "30, the French had remained well below the world record distance established in 2007 in Melbourne (1'55" 52), then passed the World Championships in Rome, In July 2009, by Federica Pellegrini, with 1'52 "98. Even in the 200 SL was ranked the second Roman Empire. In the 50 freestyle, however, the positions had been reversed: first the U.S., France's second. Victories United States undoubtedly strengthen the confidence and determination of the French champion, who - absent during the World Cup in Shanghai - will participate in the 2012 London Olympics. Since last October, Laure trains in Auburn (Alabama), under the guidance of Australian Brett Hawke technician. To go to London next year, however, must still pass the Manaudou selection of national championships, held in Dunkirk 18 to 25 March 2012. "I AM GIVING THE BEST" - " I'm ready to work again harder to prepare for the selection process for the Olympics , "said Laure Manaudou after the two races won in Athens." I'm giving it all because I see that in nine months of training I was able to make pretty good time. will return to France and will work even harder to be ready for selection for the Olympics , "he added." The first two to three months were difficult. During training I was crying behind my glasses. I went out and told myself that even if the next training session so I was stopped , "said the swimmer, who took over the preparation in the tank in September 2010." But then - he continued - the whole team was with me, encouraged me, and it's something I had never known before . "To Laure was a " lucky "to resume the races outside of France:" I knew there would be a lot of expectations and a lot of pressure. Even though I already had in the past, I think I managed to control them and are happy with the results obtained . "" C 'is really another way of looking at sport and that's why the rest in the United States to train , "concludes the Olympic.