WITH Beijing on the horizon, she could become one of the greatest Olympic swimmers of all time. But French siren Laure Manaudou is spending more time these days splashed over the gossip sheets, thanks to a rocky romance and a fiery temperament.

Michael Phelps claimed a record seventh gold medal at the FINA World Championships in Melbourne to stake his claim to swimming immortality.

THREE golds, five medals in all, and a world record. Grant Hackett of Australia was the star of the World Swimming Championships, emerging from the shadow of absent countryman Ian Thorpe.