Interview with Cassandra Patten

Congratulations on winning silver at the World Championships. How did it feel to win your first senior international medal?

I couldn’t believe it at all! When I finished the race, I knew I had come second but it was still such a shock. I looked over to my coach and saw the result screen and just burst out crying. All that training and hard work had paid off with a medal. I can’t quite explain how I felt. Unless you have had that feeling it is hard to understand.

I heard that you got stung really badly by jellyfish during the race. How did you manage to swim so well while in such pain?

I don’t know. Near the end of the race it gave me an extra edge because I had gone through all that pain and put in all that effort; it made me even more determined to come through it. It helped that I wasn’t alone; I could hear all the other girls screaming when they got stung, and so I knew that everyone was going through the same pain. But I don’t think any of us were expecting it to be that bad. In training all the jellyfish were deep below the surface, but before the race the tides had changed and they were floating on top of the water.

You were just one second off the Russian’s winning time. This is a tiny time difference over such a long distance. How did it feel to miss out on th

It would have been unbelievable to get the gold but to come second was everything I had ever wanted. On paper, I wasn’t really in with a chance of a medal, competing against girls who have 20-30 10kms under their belt, when I have only done seven. As a novice open water swimmer, the silver is just as good as gold for me.

To come second after just one year of open water competition is amazing. How does it compare to racing in the pool?

It’s totally different. In the pool you have your own space but in the open water, there are bodies everywhere. In Melbourne it was quite chaotic at the start, 38 girls diving in to the water at once, all battling to get to the front. There were girls in front, at the sides and at the back, even girls on top of me I love open water swimming though, as much as I love the pool. The 200m butterfly in the pool is probably my strongest event at the moment as I am just 0.5secs off the British record.

We hear you went to see the swimming facilities for the Olympics in Beijing 2008 on your way back from Australia. What did you think?

We couldn’t go inside but from the outside the building looked like lots of bubbles moulded together. Being there made me want to go so much more. It gave me added enthusiasm for the Olympics. I also got to see the open water lake which looks amazing.

You are a pretty safe bet for the open water 10k in Beijing, are you hoping to qualify for any other events?

Yes, definitely. I am hoping to qualify for both pool and open water races. My whole life I have dreamed of racing in the pool at the Olympics, I have to do my utmost to make that come true. Ideally, I would like to compete in the 200m butterfly, 800m freestyle and the 10k open water swim in Beijing.

Congratulations on winning gold in the 800m freestyle last week at the GB Championships in Manchester. Living in Stockport, what was it like to take

It was great. I have never really swam in front of a local crowd before so it was brilliant to have all the spectators and marshals willing me to win. I also did a PB which topped it off.

What do you like to do when you are out of the pool?

Relax. Where I am originally from in Plymouth I have two dogs and they are my pride and joy, I love spending time with them and taking them for walks. Swimming takes so much out of you, when I’m away from the pool I have very little energy and just want to make the most of my time doing nothing.

What are your dog’s names?

Lola and Simba. Lola has just broken her leg, she is only a year old and has so much energy. She usually likes to boss Simba around but now she can’t move!

I hear you would like to be a Blue Peter presenter one day, where does this ambition originate from?

Yes, if you are reading this Blue Peter, I would love a job! I can’t think of a better job to have, you get to travel, spend time with children, do sports and be outdoors a lot. Those are four of my favourite things.

You are really good friends with GB team mate Kerri-Anne Payne. Is there any rivalry between you in the pool?

I think there is always an element of competition between sportspeople, you can’t avoid it. My old coach Mr. D used to say to me, “They can be your friend out of the pool, but in it, everyone is your enemy.”

If you weren’t a swimmer which other sport would you like to do?

When I was growing up I did almost every sport you can think of. I was particularly good at judo and hockey, as well as swimming of course. If I wasn’t a swimmer I would always be active and outdoors doing one form f sport or another.