PATTEN REFLECTS BEFORE PUSHING FOR BEIJING OLYMPICS
 A
world championship silver medal in uncompromising circumstances,
the European Cup Champion and Britain's top female open water
contender for the 2008 Beijing Olympics - not bad for a sport
you have only been swimming competitively in for just over
18 months.
But for Stockport's Cassie Patten this is a well-earned reality.
From a background of pool swimming, her rise and progression
through international open water is nothing but staggering.
But it has not been plain sailing. At the 2006 LEN European
Cup, Patten took the title but not before she was caught up
in travel chaos in the wake of last year's transatlantic terrorist
bomb plot and took a rather long-winded journey to make it
to the Seville leg in Spain.
And at this year's World Championships in Melbourne, Patten
overcame a testing 10km open water course, the agony of being
stung repeatedly by jellyfish and a world class field of 42
to take the silver medal and deliver not only Britain's first
medal of those Championships but the first ever in open water.
Despite her success in the sport so far, Patten is not resting
on her laurels.
"Winning the silver medal in Melbourne was the happiest
day of my life. When the winner's national anthem was being
played I was so overwhelmed by the whole experience of being
on that podium that I nearly cried," she says.
"I try not to think about it too much because I know
that I have so much more to achieve. It was a fantastic experience
but it is the first stepping stone of more things to come."
But with the Beijing Olympics approaching in a matter of
months and with qualification beginning in January, a testing
few months lay ahead.
So, with such a heavy schedule what keeps that dogged determination
and drive to succeed and make it to the top?
"I love swimming and I love training. I've dreamed of
going to the Olympics since I was a little girl and knowing
I am now only a stone's throw away from being in Beijing is
amazing and a dream I won't let go of."
It goes without saying that success doesn't come without
the support of a team behind you. Her training squad at Stockport
Metro, headed by coach Sean Kelly, have been a tremendous
support for Patten since her move to Manchester.
"Everyone at Stockport has been amazing since I moved
up here. They're like my family really, we spend a lot of
time together.
"It's a relatively small squad too as there are only
10 of us. Keri-Anne (Payne) and Katy (Whitfield) are the only
other girls and there are seven boys who are all like my brothers.
"I've been in Manchester for 18 months now and I guess
I'm only just getting used to it, I'm a country girl at heart,"
said Patten, "but when I moved here Keri-Anne took me
under her wing and brought me into her family and I can't
thank her enough for that.
"We had only met once before in South Africa back in
March last year but we have a great laugh together. Everyone
at Stockport has been fantastic, they are so supportive of
each other.
"There's nothing better than seeing and hearing your
team get behind you when you're swimming and they are always
there to cheer for each other, be there for you if you have
a disappointing swim. I really can't explain how much they
all mean to me."
It goes without saying that behind every successful athlete
is a coach pushing them to reach their full potential. And
for Patten, Kelly's passion and drive has been instrumental.
As with any athlete, Patten spends a lot of time away and
now that she has relocated to Manchester, she misses her family
back home in Cornwall more than ever.
"When I was at home, you take things for granted. Your
parents take you to training, support you both emotionally
and financially and when I moved away from home I realised
just how much I had needed them.
"They are so proud of me and knowing that is amazing.
They have both supported me through my swimming career and
I can never repay them for that," said Patten.
"I can think of hundreds of times when I've rang them
in tears after a poor race and I've literally been sobbing
my eyes out. They tell me that it's one race and they still
love me regardless. Next time I've gone out to race I've probably
got a personal best and I would've done it without them.
"When I won the silver medal in Melbourne I got Keri-Anne
to ring my Dad so hear could hear everything while I was on
the podium. It was 2am back in England and he ran into my
sister's room so she could hear too. All of them are always
there for me when I need them and now I've moved away from
home I appreciate them more than ever,"
Patten headed home to Cornwall for Christmas for a well-earned
break and to catch up with those who mean the most to her.
And a break from the vibrant and hectic city life means Patten
can get back outdoors with some welcome friends.
"I couldn't wait to take my two dogs out for a walk!
I've got two Golden Retrievers called Lola and Simba and I
love being outside, I'm definitely a country girl at heart."
So, after a successful 2007 Patten will be looking forward
to 2008 and chasing her Olympic dream with the help of those
around her.
|
