American Coughlin planning year break

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - American Natalie Coughlin is planning to take a one-year break from competitive swimming after next month's Beijing Olympics to plan for her wedding.

"The next year will be a much-needed break but I will be staying in shape," the 100 meters backstroke world record holder told reporters in Singapore on Thursday.

"I will stay in the water. However I just don't think I will be competing for a year or so."

Coughlin said she intends to her sabbatical to travel, take dance classes and plan for her wedding in April next year.

"One of my plans is to go to a lot of the places I have been to for swim meets but I haven't actually enjoyed," said the 25-year-old, who won two gold medals, two silvers and a bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

"I don't think I'll take eight years off and come back. I think a year will be sufficient," added Coughlin, who has set herself a record-equaling target of six golds at the August 8-24 Beijing Games.

"I don't think it hurts anybody to take time off."

The U.S. Olympic swim team is training and acclimatizing in Singapore before heading to Beijing next week.

(Reporting by Melanie Lee, editing by Alastair Himmer)