World Championships. Payne wins first swimming title
2011-07-19
Fabio Terrone
Britain’s Keri-Anne Payne has won the gold medal in women's 10km open water swimming at the world championships in Shanghai

SHANGHAI - Britain’s Keri-Anne Payne has won the gold medal in women's 10km open water swimming at the world championships on Tuesday.

Payne, gold medallist in Rome 2009, crossed the finish line at Jinshan City Beach in 2 hours, 1 minute, and 58.1 seconds to edge Italy’s Martina Grimaldi (2h01:59.9) and Marianna Lymperta of Greece (2h02:01.8).

Italian European champion Giorgia Consiglio retired after 5km because of breathing problems probably caused by panic attack. She was carried in a medical ten and given oxygen and is said to have recovered well.

Payne, 23, became the first British athlete to qualify for London 2012.

The others who got a ticket to London 2012 are: Grimaldi, Lymperta, Melissa Gorman (AUS), Cecilia Biagioli (ARG), Poliana Okimoto (BRA), Jana Pechanova (CZE), Angela Maurer (GER), Swann Oberson (SUI) and world short-course 800m champion Erika Villaecija (ESP), who will now head for action in the race pool.

Also see:

Payne and Lurz wins Open Water 10km world titles
Jul 22, 2009