On This Day in 2011: Keri-Anne Payne makes London Olympics after Shanghai win

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

Keri-Anne Payne became the first Team GB athlete to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics on this day in 2011.

Payne claimed a gold medal in the 10 kilometre open water race at the FINA World Championships at Jinshan City Beach in Shanghai.

The 23-year-old had led from the get go and managed to qualify for her home Olympics in top spot despite pressure from Australia’s Melissa Gorman.

“It feels amazing. I’m just so happy with myself for doing that,” Payne said.

“To be on that Olympic team at a home Olympics is going to be absolutely amazing. I’m really pleased. It’s a weight off my shoulders.

“I can concentrate on training now for next year and I don’t have to worry about qualifying because I’ve already done it.”

Payne, who had won a silver medal at the Beijing Games in 2008, missed out on a medal in London after a fourth-place finish.

She finished behind Hungarian Eva Risztov, USA’s Haley Anderson and Martina Grimaldi from Italy.

In 2017 Payne retired from competitive swimming at the age of 29.