PATTEN REFLECTS BEFORE PUSHING FOR BEIJING OLYMPICS 31 Dec 2007 A world championship silver medal in uncompromising circumstances, European Cup Champion and Britain’s top female open water contender for the Beijing Olympics - not bad for a sport you have only been swimming competitively in for just over 18 months.

A world championship silver medal in uncompromising circumstances, the European Cup Champion and Britain’s top female open water contender for the 2008 Beijing Olympics - not bad for a sport you have only been swimming competitively in for just over 18 months.

But for Stockport’s Cassie Patten this is a well-earned reality. From a background of pool swimming, her rise and progression through international open water is nothing but staggering.

But it has not been plain sailing. At the 2006 LEN European Cup, Patten took the title but not before she was caught up in travel chaos in the wake of last year’s transatlantic terrorist bomb plot and took a rather long-winded journey to make it to the Seville leg in Spain.

And at this year’s World Championships in Melbourne, Patten overcame a testing 10km open water course, the agony of being stung repeatedly by jellyfish and a world class field of 42 to take the silver medal and deliver not only Britain’s first medal of those Championships but the first ever in open water.

Despite her success in the sport so far, Patten is not resting on her laurels.

“Winning the silver medal in Melbourne was the happiest day of my life. When the winner’s national anthem was being played I was so overwhelmed by the whole experience of being on that podium that I nearly cried,” she says.

“I try not to think about it too much because I know that I have so much more to achieve. It was a fantastic experience but it is the first stepping stone of more things to come.”

But with the Beijing Olympics approaching in a matter of months and with qualification beginning in January, a testing few months lay ahead.

So, with such a heavy schedule what keeps that dogged determination and drive to succeed and make it to the top?

“I love swimming and I love training. I’ve dreamed of going to the Olympics since I was a little girl and knowing I am now only a stone’s throw away from being in Beijing is amazing and a dream I won’t let go of.”

It goes without saying that success doesn’t come without the support of a team behind you. Her training squad at Stockport Metro, headed by coach Sean Kelly, have been a tremendous support for Patten since her move to Manchester.

“Everyone at Stockport has been amazing since I moved up here. They’re like my family really, we spend a lot of time together.

“It’s a relatively small squad too as there are only 10 of us. Keri-Anne (Payne) and Katy (Whitfield) are the only other girls and there are seven boys who are all like my brothers.

“I’ve been in Manchester for 18 months now and I guess I’m only just getting used to it, I’m a country girl at heart,” said Patten, “but when I moved here Keri-Anne took me under her wing and brought me into her family and I can’t thank her enough for that.

“We had only met once before in South Africa back in March last year but we have a great laugh together. Everyone at Stockport has been fantastic, they are so supportive of each other.

“There’s nothing better than seeing and hearing your team get behind you when you’re swimming and they are always there to cheer for each other, be there for you if you have a disappointing swim. I really can’t explain how much they all mean to me.”

It goes without saying that behind every successful athlete is a coach pushing them to reach their full potential. And for Patten, Kelly’s passion and drive has been instrumental.

As with any athlete, Patten spends a lot of time away and now that she has relocated to Manchester, she misses her family back home in Cornwall more than ever.

“When I was at home, you take things for granted. Your parents take you to training, support you both emotionally and financially and when I moved away from home I realised just how much I had needed them.

“They are so proud of me and knowing that is amazing. They have both supported me through my swimming career and I can never repay them for that,” said Patten.

“I can think of hundreds of times when I’ve rang them in tears after a poor race and I’ve literally been sobbing my eyes out. They tell me that it’s one race and they still love me regardless. Next time I’ve gone out to race I’ve probably got a personal best and I would’ve done it without them.

“When I won the silver medal in Melbourne I got Keri-Anne to ring my Dad so hear could hear everything while I was on the podium. It was 2am back in England and he ran into my sister’s room so she could hear too. All of them are always there for me when I need them and now I’ve moved away from home I appreciate them more than ever,”

Patten headed home to Cornwall for Christmas for a well-earned break and to catch up with those who mean the most to her.

And a break from the vibrant and hectic city life means Patten can get back outdoors with some welcome friends.

“I couldn’t wait to take my two dogs out for a walk! I’ve got two Golden Retrievers called Lola and Simba and I love being outside, I’m definitely a country girl at heart.”

So, after a successful 2007 Patten will be looking forward to 2008 and chasing her Olympic dream with the help of those around her.