‘Rough diamond’ Laure a splash with the media

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.

The star of the 2007 world championships hit stormy waters — personally and professionally — following a split with her coach and a move to Italy after falling in love with Italian swimmer Luca Marin.

However, the romance ended in tears when Manaudou finally flung back Marin’s ring in a very public spat.