PATTEN TAKES SILVER DESPITE UNCOMPROMISING COURSE
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."
Head 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.
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