Having stolen her ex-boyfriend and world record, Italy’s Olympic champion Federica Pellegrini has now pinched former rival Laure Manaudou’s ex-coach Philippe Lucas.

The notorious French coach presided over the greatest period in Manaudou’s career as she won the Olympic crown in 2004 and a further three world titles in 2005 and 2007.

She also set world records in the 200m and 400m freestyle under Lucas.

Pellegrini, however, beat her 200m freestyle world record during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, during which time Manaudou suffered a torrid and unfulfilling time.

Two-time world champion Pellegrini also ended up in a relationship with Manaudou’s ex-boyfriend, the Italian swimmer Luca Marin.

And now the 22-year-old from Mirano has also moved in on her former rival’s old coach.

“I met with Philippe Lucas straight after the New Year in Spinea at home with my parents who have always backed me in important decisions,” Pellegrini said on her website.

“Lucas told me what I wanted to hear myself saying and now I’m ready to discuss all possible solutions with the (Italian) Swimming Federation.”

“For reasons of confidentiality I decided with Lucas that we wouldn’t reveal the content of our meeting until the presidents of the Italian Federation and my club have been informed,” she added. Pellegrini split with her former coach Stefano Morini last month after they teamed up in October 2009 following the death of her long-time mentor Alberto Castagnetti.

Her agent Marco del Checcolo confirmed that Pellegrini would now be training with Lucas as she prepares for the Shanghai World Championships later this year and the Olympics in London next year.

But he added that the Italian federation would have to find a suitable pool for the Verona-based swimmer in Italy or she could move to Paris.

“On Tuesday Federica indicated her choice to the Italian Federation,” Del Checcolo told AFP. “She would like not to leave Verona but there is no 50 metres (Olympic pool). And Federica doesn’t like training in a 25m pool.”

Manaudou split from Lucas in 2007 when she moved to Italy to be closer to her then boyfriend Marin. That move lasted less than six months, though, and Manaudou split from Marin and returned home.

Marin later hooked up with Pellegrini.

Following her Beijing debacle Manaudou retired and now has a child, Manon, with new partner Frederick Bous-quet, also an international swimmer.