Keri-Anne Payne Punches Ticket To London

by Josh Huger (MrUtopia)

British swimmer Keri-Anne Payne became the first swimmer to qualify for the 2012 Olympics by winning the 10k open water event at the FINA World Championships in Shanghai.

Though the win was rewarding, Payne had bigger things on her mind, other than a gold medal. On her personal site she posted:

"Being World Champion for the second time is an incredible feeling but knowing I have qualified for London 2012 is out of this world! I’ve now got just over a year to get ready and I am more determined than ever!"

The 10k event will be the only open water race contested at the Olympics. This World Championship race was the first chance to qualify for the Games for the top 10 swimmers.

The top 10 swimmers automatically qualifying for London are:

1. Keri-Anne Payne (GBR) 2:01:58.1

2. Martina Grimaldi (ITA) 2:01:59.9

3. Marianna Lymperta (GRE) 2:02:01.8

4. Melissa Gorman (AUS) 2:02:01.8

5. Cecilia Biagioli (ARG) 2:02:12.0

6. Poliana Okimoto (BRA) 2:02:13.6

7. Jana Pechanova (CZE) 2:02:13.8

8. Angela Maurer (GER) 2:02:15.1

9. Swann Oberson (SUI) 2:02:16.4

10. Erika Villaecija Garcia (ESP) 2:02:18.7

Check out Payne's personal site here