Heywood girl a swimming champ

Keri-Anne Payne

Heywood girl Keri-Anne Payne, has become the World Swimming Champion after her exceptional 10K open water victory in the World Swimming Championships in Italy.

Miss Payne led most of the race regardless of several surges from opponent of Brazil, Italy, Russia, Germany, Australia and the U.S. the race was essentially determined on the last loop of the race in which Payne withstood a challenge from Martina Grimaldi of Italy.

The 21-year-old swam alongside Italian swimmer Miss Grimaldi, down the back straightaway into the final turn buoy.

Payne, on the right hand side of Grimaldi, came out with the lead which she maintained into the last 650 meters.

Miss Payne’s win, in Ostia, just off the Italian coast, completed in the course in two hours, one minute 37 seconds, with Russia's Ekaterina Seliverstova following a second behind, 2hr 1min 38sec.

Italian Martina Grimaldi took the bronze in 2hr 1min 38.6sec. Payne's Stockport team mate, Katy Whitfield, came 35th.

Keri-Anne won the Olympic silver medal last year in Beijing and, despite now being the world swimming champion, has her sights set on the Olympic gold medal London’s 2012.