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New distance event for Olympic swimmer

29/ 5/2008

TWELVE years of hard work and dedication come to fruition for swimming star Keri-Anne Payne in July.

The 20-year-old will fly the flag for Great Britain in the Beijing Olympics.

Payne, a former Cardinal Langley School student, who has qualified for two events in the pool, added a further event to her schedule during the recent FINA Open Water Swimming Championships in Sevilla.

She will now compete in the 200m and 400m individual medley events in the pool, and in the 10km open water swim.

Payne is now seeking sponsorship and said: "It’s taken 12 years hard work and training, but it’s a dream come true. I just missed out on the games four years ago, but now it’s happening.

"Since I was 13 I have trained 10 sessions a week in the pool and at the gym. In a typical week I now swim 60 to 70,000 metres, and spend four to five hours in the gym, and it’s a challenge.

"The demands of training mean I am limited as to the amount of work I can do. I do one day a week with Skill Force, a charity involved with the Duke of Edinburgh scheme. They have been very good to me, but I can only work part time.

"My involvement in swimming at this level is financially demanding.

"So any help towards the costs would be gratefully received."