PARIS - Former Olympic champion Laure Manaudou of France has retired from swimming, citing a lack of motivation.

"I quit. This hasn't been an easy decision to take. It came to me little by little. I didn't make it on impulse. I've got all the titles. I had everything I wanted, even more than in my dreams... I have all the time to think about my future," Le Parisien newspaper quoted yesterday.

She burst onto the international stage by winning the 400m freestyle aged 17 at the 2004 Olympics.

In that Games shel also won the silver medal in the 800 metres freestyle and a bronze in 100m backstroke.

"She made the right choice by deciding to stop," Lucas, the coach to whom she split in 2007, told Le Point. "At last, she is going to enjoy some peace of mind."

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