Beijing 2008 - Open water silver and bronze for Brits

Eurosport - Thu, 21 Aug 06:09:00 2008

Keri-Anne Payne and Cassie Patten took silver and bronze in the inaugural women's 10km open water swim after leading the pack for nearly two hours.

Keri-Anne Payne (R) and Cassandra Patten - Beijing Olympics - 2008 - 0

Russia's Larisa Ilchenko swam in the slipstream of the two pace-setting Britons for the vast majority of the race before producing a perfectly timed sprint finish in the last 100m to snatch gold in one hour 59 minutes 27 seconds.

The three-times world champion swam a technical race, riding in the wake of the leaders before darting past them with the finish in sight.

Payne (pictured right) took the silver medal in one hour 59 minutes 29 seconds while Patten had to settle for bronze in one hour 59 minutes 31 seconds.

"To get a medal is amazing," Patten said. "We didn't have a tactic, we just went out and swam. The course was really flat and one of the best I've ever swum. But I got weeds stuck in my costume and my face.

"We didn't talk at all out there. We're best friends, we train together and we just kind of knew when to kick at the right time."

Patten was threatened by German Angela Maurer in the final stages of the race and secured the bronze by just ninths of a second.

"The last 1000m seemed like another 10km," Patten said. "Everytime I looked up the finish seemed no closer. I swam into a large orange bouy. As if I could have missed it. Every part of my body was aching but I tried pushing for gold.

"There was a little pushing action in the water, the adrenalin was flowing and I don't usually get into fights," added Patten who ended the race with a cut leg.

Reuters

Comment 18 - 37 of 37

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  1. well done girls what a swim they should all get golds

    From paulchef58, on Wed 20 Aug 4:51PM

  2. Well done team GB. Keep it up to the end!

    From rrepun_7, on Wed 20 Aug 4:49PM

  3. Well done Team GB. Keep it up to the end!

    From rrepun_7, on Wed 20 Aug 4:48PM

  4. Well done girls!! Watched the whole race and couldn't believe how well they swam, however I think it would have been gold and silver if the Russian girl hadn't pulled Cassie Paynes legs the whole way. It must have drained Cassies energy having to keep trying to get away from Ilchenko. Now we know why she stays behind the leader until the last minute, she makes sure she wins by wearing the leader down. Can't believe none of the officials picked up on it.

    From elaine c, on Wed 20 Aug 3:38PM

  5. absolutely amazing our team GB have done us so proud in all their efforts, cant wait for 2012 am definitelty saving for tickets now to go and cheer on our TEAM GB woohooooooooooo

    From essexgirl64, on Wed 20 Aug 2:16PM

  6. The Russian should have been disqualified for cheating. She spent most of the race whacking the feet of the girl swimming in front of her. This must have been deliberate as this behaviour was carried on for most of the race.

    From rodmclaren, on Wed 20 Aug 1:38PM

  7. The Russian should have been disqualified for cheating. She spent most of the race whacking the feet of the girl swimming in front of her. This must have been deliberate as this behaviour was carried on for most of the race.

    From rodmclaren, on Wed 20 Aug 1:36PM

  8. Absolutely brilliant..... What a race!! Well done girls.... Your achievements and the achievements of the rest of Team GB have made everyone at home so proud!! There is such a sense of National Pride at the moment, and it's wonderful!! Go Team GB!! x

    From Kerrywba, on Wed 20 Aug 1:33PM

  9. well said mya-myj, our lot have done us proud!

    From collinreid, on Wed 20 Aug 12:47PM

  10. Great job for girls, brave performance.but you must give a credit to the russian.She is a very gorgious young lady alongside with her athlete skills. just look at her b clicking at her name.
    Actually she is on of the hotest of this olympics so far to my money.and by miles in swimming)))

    From l1310g, on Wed 20 Aug 12:45PM

  11. BRILLIANT GIRLS TRUE BRIT GRIT!!! - especially as the russian seemed to enjoy cutting across nearly all the contestants and pulling the feet of the leading swimmers - one of our girls remarked on this,did you notice her injured leg? Just for once instead of accepting our lot, could the British put in a protest?.

    From M G, on Wed 20 Aug 11:17AM

  12. Now that's what I call a race and to the strength to maintain that level of effort for 2 hours, fantastic achievement

    From larryclements, on Wed 20 Aug 10:18AM

  13. this sport is too dangerous, it can lead to salty tongue and dry eye syndrome - there setting a bad example booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

    From Christopher F, on Wed 20 Aug 9:55AM

  14. gongratulations~

    From lee.tsang, on Wed 20 Aug 9:14AM

  15. Didn't see the race but no doubt will see it today on the roundup. Well done Team GB. You are all making us proud. Go to it!

    From d.moore28, on Wed 20 Aug 9:00AM

  16. From one Heywood Girl to another Heywood Girl,congratulations Keri (and Cassie),putting Heywood on the map and also hopefully inspiring a lot of young kids from here too,to maybe train for a sport for the next Olympics!! Jo

    From joanne c, on Wed 20 Aug 8:57AM

  17. well done to all our gb team,its not how you win but how you play the game,keep up the good work,we are all proud of you.

    From familykinsmanpartners, on Wed 20 Aug 8:55AM

  18. Well done girls, Open Water Swimming is now firmly on the map!! Superb gutsy performance

    From vixxxxxxxxxxxxx, on Wed 20 Aug 8:46AM

  19. Well done to all of Team GB so far. Take note magazine editors, these are the women that should be on the front of your magazines, not these poxy celebrities with their knickerless crotches or this week story of 'hardship'.

    From mya_myj, on Wed 20 Aug 8:44AM

  20. Well done to all the competitors, but especially those who have gained medals. It is wonderful to see GB right up there in the medals table. Watching the Olympics is gripping stuff!! I hope our other national sports teams can learn something from the success of Team GB.

    From JUDITH J, on Wed 20 Aug 8:28AM
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