Olympic 10km medallist Keri-Anne Payne gives swim master class at community special school, ahead of the British Gas Great East Swim
Keri-Anne, who won silver in the Olympic 10km open water swimming event in Beijing, is a two-time world champion and will be hoping for glory in the women’s elite race at tomorrow’s British Gas Great East Swim at Anglian Water's Alton Water Park near Ipswich.
Over 3,000 swimmers will also take part in the one-mile swim at the reservoir as part of the mass event, which is being staged for the second year.
Ahead of the Swim, Keri-Anne led a swim training session with a group of pupils from the Thomas Wolsey School in Defoe Road, Ipswich.
Payne said: “It is great to be back in Suffolk following last year’s first British Gas Great East. I really enjoyed taking part and will be hoping to defend my title on Saturday. It is also great to see that so many people have caught the swimming bug and I wish them the best of luck for the mass event at Alton Water reservoir”.
The children, aged between 11 and 14 years, received training tips and advice from the GB swimmer.
The visit was arranged to recognise Thomas Wolsey achieving Get Set Network status. Get Set is the official London 2012 education programme and the main way for schools, colleges and other learning institutions across the UK to play their part in the Olympics. By achieving Get Set network status the school has demonstrated a commitment to the Olympic and Paralympic values and are using the London 2012 Games to inspire learning.
The British Gas Great East Swim is free for spectators. The action will kick off from 0800 with the elite races taking place at midday.