Former French Olympic swimming champion Laure Manaudou will be following in her brother’s footsteps, literally and figuratively.
Manaudou was announced as a contestant for France’s version of “Dancing with the Stars” this season, a year after her brother and fellow Olympic champion Florent competed on the show.
Florent Manaudou was a finalist last season on the show.
Laure Manaudou is a pioneer of French swimming, becoming the first ever women’s gold medalist from France when she won the women’s 400 freestyle at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
She also won the silver medal in the 800 free and the bronze medal in the 100 back at the same Olympics, at the time becoming the second woman from France to win three individual medals at a single Olympics.
Manaudou competed at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, but failed to medal in both Beijing and London.
However, Manaudou was front and center in London to witness Florent win the gold medal in the 50 freestyle.
Florent won bronze in the 50 free on home soil at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and went on with partner Elsa Bois to finish 2nd on France’s 14th season of Dancing with the Stars.
The couple was beaten out by singer Lenie Vacher and her partner, Jordan Mouillerac.
Now, just as Florent followed Laure’s footsteps to Olympic glory in the pool, Laure will try and replicate the success Florent had on Dancing with the Stars.
Participants in the show are paid a salary along with prize money for how far they advance.
Two swimmers, Ryan Lochte and Natalie Coughlin, have appeared on the American version of the show.
Coughlin was 10th in season 9, while Lochte was 7th in season 23.
