Keri-Anne Payne (born 9 December 1987), is a South African-born British swimmer, specialising in marathon open water swimming, and long-distance freestyle swimming in the pool. She is a two-time 10-kilometre open water world champion, and an Olympic silver medallist.
Swimming career
Payne was born on 9 December 1987 in Johannesburg, South Africa, to British parents,[1] who registered her birth at the British Consulate. She started swimming aged 4, and was noticed aged 8 by British Swimming's national performance director Bill Sweetenham at a training camp in South Africa.[2] As a result, the family returned to the UK to live in Heywood, Greater Manchester, when she was 13.[1]
Payne attended Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School. Joining Stockport Metro, she has been coached since by Sean Kelly. Having broken the British junior 800-metre freestyle record in 2002, Payne's central financial support was cut after she failed to win a medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. As a result, Kelly suggested that she try open water swimming, allowing her to access additional central funding.[2]
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 Olympics.[5] She took part in the 10-kilometre open water event at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, and finished fourth, four seconds behind the winner.
