Olympians Mark Gangloff, Laure Manaudou Join Auburn Staff As Volunteer Assistants

AUBURN, Alabama, December 10. OLYMPIC medalists Mark Gangloff and Laure Manaudou were named volunteer assistants for the Auburn swimming and diving team, head coach Brett Hawke announced Friday.

"We are thrilled to have two highly-decorated swimmers a part of our staff here at Auburn," Hawke said. "The experience these two bring to the table is unmatched and we are thankful that they are excited to pass on their knowledge and experience to the team."

Gangloff joins the staff as a two-time Olympic gold medalist, winning the gold in both the 2004 Athens Olympics and 2008 Beijing Olympics as a part of the United States 400m medley relay teams. Other international accolades include winning bronze in the 50m breaststroke and gold as a part of the 400m medley relay at the 2009 World Championships.

In prior world meets, Gangloff won silver in both the 50m breast and 400m medley relay at the 2008 World Championships. At the 2005 World Championships, he came away with a gold in the 400m medley relay and silver in the 50m breast. Gangloff currently holds the American record in the 50m breast, recording a time of 26.86. He also is the 2009 USA Swimming champion in the 100m breast.

While at Auburn, Gangloff was a 12-time All-American, swimming in the breaststroke events, the 200 IM and both medley relays. In 2004, he was a part of the NCAA champion 200 medley relay squad, as well as being a part of the 2003 and 2004 national championship teams.

In his senior year, Gangloff won both the 100 and 200 breaststroke events and swam the second leg for both the 200 and 400 champion medley relay squads at the 2004 Southeastern Conference Championships.

"I'm very thankful for the opportunity to give back to the place that gave me so much when I was a student-athlete here," Gangloff said. "I'm thrilled to be a part of the team again and to be able contribute in as many ways as I can."

A native of Stow, Ohio, Gangloff earned his degree in criminology from Auburn in 2005. He is married to the former Ashley Rubenstein, who dove at Auburn and participated in the 2005 World University Games. The couple has a daughter, Annabelle.

Manaudou is a three-time Olympic medalist for her home country of France. She captured the gold medal in the 400m free at the 2004 Athens Olympics, while also taking silver in the 800m free and bronze in the 100m back at the meet.

She is a back-to-back gold medalist in the 400m free, taking first in the event at both the 2005 and 2007 World Championships. Manaudou also took gold in the 200m free in a world-record time, silver in the 800m free and 100m back and bronze in the 4×200 free relay at the 2007 world meet.

"I am excited to be a part of the Auburn program," Manaudou said. "I hope the experience and knowledge I am able to pass on to the team will better them for the future. I am very happy to be here."

Manaudou is a nine-time European champion, capturing three gold medals (400m free, 100m back, 400 medley relay) at the 2004 European Championships. She won four gold and three bronze medals at the 2006 European Championships and at the 2008 meet, she took home two gold medals and a silver.

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