Florent Manaudou is a renowned French competitive swimmer, celebrated for his explosive speed in sprint events, particularly the 50-meter freestyle.
Born on November 12, 1990, in Villeurbanne, a suburb of Lyon, France, he has established himself as one of the nation’s most decorated athletes in the pool.
Manaudou combines raw athleticism with a charismatic presence, often noted for his dimpled smile and tongue piercing.
Beyond the water, he has ventured into acting, appearing in French TV series like Vestiaires and Munch, and in 2025, he joined the 14th season of the popular dance competition Danse avec les Stars.
Siblings
Florent is the youngest of three siblings, with his parents—Jean-Luc Manaudou, a former professional handball player and trainer, and Olga Schippers (or Shippers), a Dutch former badminton player—instilling a strong sporting ethos from an early age.
His older sister, Laure Manaudou, born in 1986, is a trailblazing Olympic swimmer who claimed France’s first women’s swimming gold medal in the 400-meter freestyle at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Laure’s success not only elevated the profile of swimming in France but also served as direct inspiration for Florent, who has often credited her support during key moments, such as rushing poolside to celebrate his own victories.
The siblings made history as the first brother-sister duo to win individual Olympic gold medals in swimming.
Florent’s other sibling, older brother Nicolas Manaudou, introduced him to the sport at age three while coaching at the Amberieu-en-Bugey club, laying the foundation for his lifelong passion.
Together, the Manaudou family’s shared commitment to athletics has created a legacy often dubbed a “swimming dynasty” in France.
Career
Manaudou’s swimming journey ignited early, with his first major milestone as the French junior champion in the 50-meter freestyle in 2007.
By 2009, he had enlisted in the French Army, serving in an artillery regiment while balancing rigorous training, a discipline that honed his mental fortitude.
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His breakthrough arrived at the 2012 London Olympics, where, at just 21, he stunned the world by defeating defending champion Cesar Cielo to claim gold in the 50-meter freestyle, clocking a time of 21.34 seconds and marking France’s fourth swimming gold of the Games.
This victory, celebrated alongside his sister Laure, propelled him to national stardom.
Manaudou’s career has been a tapestry of peaks and challenges.
In 2014, he dominated the European Aquatics Championships in Berlin, securing four gold medals, and at the World Short Course Championships, he shattered world records in the 50-meter backstroke and freestyle while amassing six medals, three of them gold.
Injuries tested his resolve—a shoulder issue in 2013, a wrist injury in 2015, and a fractured finger in 2018 forced breaks—but he rebounded fiercely.
After silver medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics (50-meter freestyle and 4×100-meter freestyle relay), he took a hiatus from full-time training in 2017, experimenting with handball for Aix-en-Provence and even commentating at the World Championships.
His return in 2019 aligned with the International Swimming League, where he joined Energy Standard, reigniting his competitive fire.
At the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, he added another silver in the 50-meter freestyle.
In 2022, he switched clubs from CN Marseille to CN Antibes, refining his technique.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, held in his home country, the 33-year-old competed with vigor, anchoring France’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay to a strong finish despite not medaling individually, and served as co-flag bearer during the opening ceremony alongside discus thrower Melina Robert-Michon.
Throughout, Manaudou has balanced elite competition with media ventures, including modeling for Men’s Fitness and endorsements with brands like Arena.
Accolades
Manaudou’s trophy cabinet gleams with Olympic excellence, including his landmark gold in the 50-meter freestyle at London 2012 and silvers in the same event at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, plus a relay silver in Rio, totaling four Olympic medals.
His dominance extended to the world stage, where he captured six medals—three golds—at the 2014 World Short Course Championships, breaking world records in the 50-meter backstroke (22.93 seconds) and freestyle (20.26 seconds).
At the 2014 European Aquatics Championships, he swept four golds, underscoring his sprint prowess.
Domestically, his 2007 junior title foreshadowed a career capped by being named French Sportsman of the Year in 2012 and receiving the prestigious Legion of Honour for elevating French sports.
In 2024, his role as France’s Olympic flag bearer cemented his icon status, inspiring a new generation while amassing over six Olympic medals in swimming across his storied tenure.
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