Keri-Anne Payne
Encyclopedia
Keri-Anne Payne is a British swimmer, specialising in marathon open water swimming
, and long-distance freestyle swimming in the pool. She is a two-time World 10 km Open Water champion, and an Olympic
silver medallist.
Payne was born in South Africa to British parents. She started swimming aged four, and moved to the UK when she was 13. She represented Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics
in the 200m and 400m individual medley swimming events as well as the 10 km open water event, in which was placed second and won a silver medal for Great Britain.
At the 2009 World Aquatics Championships
, held in Rome
, Payne won the 10km swim
. She finished first in a time of two hours, one minute and 37.1 seconds.
In 2011
in Shanghai, Payne reclaimed the World Championship in the 10 km Open Water event, becoming in the process the first British athlete in any sport to confirm qualification for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
She lives in Heywood, Greater Manchester
, and trains at British Swimming
's Intensive Training Centre at Stockport
's Grand Central Pools.
Open water swimming
Open water swimming takes place in outdoor bodies of water such as open oceans, bays, lakes, rivers, canals, and reservoirs.The beginning of the modern age of open water swimming is sometimes taken to be May 3, 1810, when Lord Byron swam several miles to cross the Hellespont from Europe to Asia.In...
, and long-distance freestyle swimming in the pool. She is a two-time World 10 km Open Water champion, and an Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
silver medallist.
Payne was born in South Africa to British parents. She started swimming aged four, and moved to the UK when she was 13. She represented Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Great Britain competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The United Kingdom was represented by the British Olympic Association , and the team of selected athletes was officially known as Team GB. Britain is one of only five NOCs to have competed in every Summer Olympic Games since 1896...
in the 200m and 400m individual medley swimming events as well as the 10 km open water event, in which was placed second and won a silver medal for Great Britain.
At the 2009 World Aquatics Championships
2009 World Aquatics Championships
The 2009 World Aquatics Championships or the XIII FINA World Championships were celebrated in Rome, Italy in 2009 from July 17 to August 2. The 2009 Championships featured competition in all 5 aquatics disciplines: diving, swimming, open water swimming, synchronized swimming and water polo.Rome won...
, held in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Payne won the 10km swim
Open water swimming at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships – Women's 10 km
The women's 10K race at the 2009 World Championships occurred on Wednesday, 22 July at Ostia Beach in Rome, Italy. In total, 45 women from 26 countries competed in the race.-Results:Key: DNF = Did not finish-See also:...
. She finished first in a time of two hours, one minute and 37.1 seconds.
In 2011
2011 World Aquatics Championships
The 14th FINA World Championships were held at July 16–31, 2011 in Shanghai, China at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center. The 2011 World Championships featured five aquatics disciplines: swimming, water polo, diving, open water, and synchronised swimming...
in Shanghai, Payne reclaimed the World Championship in the 10 km Open Water event, becoming in the process the first British athlete in any sport to confirm qualification for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
She lives in Heywood, Greater Manchester
Heywood, Greater Manchester
Heywood is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the south bank of the River Roch and is east of Bury, west-southwest of Rochdale, and north of the city of Manchester. The town of Middleton lies to the south, whilst to the north is the...
, and trains at British Swimming
British Swimming (organisation)
British Swimming is the national governing body of swimming, water polo, synchronised swimming, diving and open water in Great Britain. British Swimming is a federation of the national governing bodies of England , Scotland , and Wales...
's Intensive Training Centre at Stockport
Stockport
Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
's Grand Central Pools.