Search for
Search for
Search forCassie's delight at Olympics bronze
Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 08:36
The 21-year-old from St Cleer, near Liskeard, produced a magnificent performance to finish third in the open 10k water event, which was being staged for the first time in the Olympics, at the Shunyi Rowing Lake an hour outside central Beijing.
Leading for long periods, Patten was only headed in the closing 150 metres of the two-hour long race as first Russia's eight-times world champion Larisa Ilchenko sped past for victory with another Brit, Patten's training partner Keri-Anne Payne, second.
Patten couldn't contain her emotions at the prize-giving as she waved to her parents, Zandra and Tony, who were among the crowd on the other side of the water and her sheer delight was evident at the press conference afterwards.
"The prize ceremony was emotional," said Patten. "As a little girl you always dream of winning an Olympic medal.
"This is a moment I will treasure for ever, it will go into the memory box in my head.
"I could hear my parents cheering me during the race. My mum will be crying; if I was crying then she'll be crying as well!
"It is amazing to know that my parents are here and can share this with me because I couldn't have done it without them.
"I'm dedicating this medal to my sister Lucy, who is 17 in two days time (Friday August 22) as she is my best friend and has always supported me.
"Being a sister to an athlete is difficult as she has sacrificed a lot so this is for her."
Born in Truro, Patten quickly took to the water and after initial success decided to move to Plymouth for the better facilities. Such was her progress that she then decided to move to Stockport to work with top coach Sean Kelly, impressed by his record of producing Olympians, including medallists Steve Parry and Graeme Smith.
Now a full-time swimmer the switch has paid handsome dividends and Patten's bronze medals can sit proudly next to her silver from the World Championships, in Melbourne, last year.
"It has been a lot of hard work but now we also we now have that belief that we can win medals as individuals and as a team," added Patten.
"In the past we have had great swimmers and don't get me wrong, I'm not slating any performances, but sometimes that lack of belief has led to a lack of medals."
The race was not without incident as Patten exchanged words with German swimmer Angela Maurer , who was just 0.9secs behind in fourth, at the finish
"It was unsporting behaviour - I would never pull of anyone's leg and would assume no-one would do it to me," said Patten.
"Her reasons were I didn't see you; I'll not say any more than that except that it was very annoying because I didn't get to saviour that moment of looking up when I finished third.
"But at the end of the day I have a medal and she hasn't and no-one can ever take this medal off me. I have it forever. It is my moment forever."
And it will be one that Cassie Patten will cherish for the rest of her life.
The marathon swim proved a big attraction for spectators and of the 25-strong field only one, Kristel Kobrich of Chile, failed to complete the course and the winner finished 12 minutes 8.2 seconds ahead of the last placed competitor, Antonella Bogarin of Argentina.
Payne crossed the finish line in 1:59:29.2, with Patten finishing in 1:59:31.0.
Pet Insurance- 5% Online Discount
UK Pet Insurance. Buy instantly online. From just £4.85 per month.
100% Compensation with Free Service. No Win No Fee Start Claim online.
Looking to buy a DIY conservatory? Master Plastics offer flat packed DIY conservatories built to your design for delivery to both DIY and trade users anywhere in the UK.
Cassie Patten.
Comment on this story