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TERROR PLOT FAILS TO STOP GOLDEN GIRL
Britain's Cassie Patten has won the LEN European Cup in only
her first season in open water swimming after she secured
victory on Saturday in the final event of the series in Spain.
And the Stockport Metro swimmer took the victory in the face
of adversity following a day-long journey to the event after
her original flight from Heathrow was cancelled due to the
terrorist plot to target flights leaving Britain.
Patten (19) showed great determination and commitment to
simply make it to the event and, despite arriving just a few
hours before the start, her character was evident once again
as she took victory over 10km in Navia.
Originally from Cardinham, Patten was forced to fly out of
Bristol following her original cancellation and from Madrid
she drove 400m to the event arriving in the early hours of
the day of competition.
Despite the lack of preparation, and in difficult conditions,
Patten finished the 10km course in 2:01:25 ahead of Cathy
Dietrich of France in 2:01:30 and Steffanie Biller of Germany
in 2:01:40.
Patten's win in Spain, together with victories in Britain
and Germany, gave her an unassailable 60 points for the series
gold with Dietrich finishing on 52 and Biller on 49 for the
other medals.
The former Portsmouth Northsea swimmer only made the transition
from the pool to open water this year and has her eyes set
on next year's World Championships in Melbourne and Beijing
in 2008 the event will be contested as part of the Olympic
programme.
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