Swimmer Cassie Patten delivered Britain’s first medal of the FINA World Championships in Melbourne when she overcame a testing 10km open water course, the agony of being stung by jellyfish and a world class field to take the silver.
The 20-year-old from Stockport Metro took the lead on the final of four 2.5km laps and bravely tried to fend off the challenge of Russia’s Larisa Ilchenko who eventually took the gold on the line in an exciting finish.
Ilchenko finished the course in 2:03.57.9, Patten was second in 2:03.58.9 and Australian Kate Brookes-Peterson took the bronze in 2:03.59.5. Britain’s Keri-anne Payne was 11th in 2:04.37.
Patten, who only made the transition from the pool to open water last summer, showed real strength of mind and body to overcome the challenge which proved too much for a number of the field of 42 as some had to be rescued from the water.
Jellyfish proved to be the biggest problem for the open water swimmers, on day four of the World Championships, with not one of the field leaving the water without being stung repeatedly.
For a tearful Patten, however, the nature in which she won her World Championship medal, against some very tough odds, proved all too much to take for the young talent.
“I’m feeling quite emotional at the moment but its pure happiness,” said Patten. “I’m tired and very sore as I was stung a lot on my arms, legs and face - they even got me through my costume. It felt like hundreds and for some of the swimmers it was just too much.”
“The stings were very painful but I’d tried to concentrate on getting to the end and to be honest they helped to keep you alert as you’re out there for such a long time.”
Patten approached her first World Championship event very differently from those before and is convinced this played a big part in delivering such a performance so soon in her international open water career.
“In previous open water events I’ve finished ninth and tenth but I woke up this morning and convinced myself that wasn’t going to happen. I desperately wanted to get a medal and it just shows that positive thinking is the way forward.
“I lead for the whole of the last lap and was thinking to myself that I didn’t want to travel all of this way to Australia, to have put in the thousands of hours and kilometres in training and come away with nothing. It was the boost I needed and I really tried to fend her off at the end.
“The Russian is an experienced open water swimmer whereas I only began competing last summer. I think experience in this event is key and with a little more, maybe I’ll be on the top step of the podium soon.”
High winds had been predicted but the majority of the course was flat with the water temperature at a welcome 20 Celsius. These conditions suited British team mate Payne who lead for a large part of the race.
However, sitting at the front of the field Payne was stung badly in her mouth which eventually lead to her dropping back through the field.
“That result gives me great belief for Beijing where I hope to swim the 10km event. I was looking and feeling good but then I took on fluid at the wrong time and lost my place in the order of things,” said Payne.
“I was stung lots of times and going into the final lap was stung in the mouth, decided to get rid of the awful taste by taking a drink and then the girls just came over the top of me.
“It’s only my second ever 10km swim and it’s still a learning process for me but I doubt whether I’ll have to contend with the same conditions again.”
Coach Sean Kelly was delighted with Patten’s medal and the swimmers’ performances overall in what can only be described as testing circumstances for the athletes.
“Both girls had a strategy which they followed and both did a good job. Cassie’s medal is just fantastic for someone just coming into the sport and for Keri-anne it’s part of her education in open water but she showed real promise,” said Kelly.
“I’m really happy for Cassie, she’s worked hard for her medal. At the same time I’m disappointed for Keri-anne as she looked so comfortable out there for the majority of the race until she was stung in her mouth.”
Britain’s Alan Bircher goes in the Men’s 10km event tomorrow off the St Kilda shore.
-ends-
The 12th FINA World Championships will take place from 17th March until 1st April 2007.
The British team comprises:
Alan Bircher - University of Bath
Cassie Patten - Stockport Metro
Keri-anne Payne - Stockport Metro
Diving events take place from 19th to 26th March.
Swimming takes place from 25th March to 1st April.
Open Water takes place from 18th to 25th March.
Synchro takes place from 17th to 24th March
For further details contact Dave Richards, British Swimming Media Manager, on 01509 632237, 0778 992 6136 or email dave.richards@swimming.org
British Swimming is the National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Synchronised Swimming, Water Polo and Open Water in Great Britain. It is responsible internationally for the high performance representation of the sport. The members of British Swimming are the three Home Countries national governing bodies of England (Amateur Swimming Association), Scotland (Scottish Amateur Swimming Association) and Wales. (Welsh Amateur Swimming Association) British Swimming seeks to enable its athletes to achieve gold medal success at the Olympics, Paralympics, World Championships and Commonwealth Games.
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