Payne determined to juggle open water and pool commitments

From Chris Cottrell, Sportsbeat, in Sheffield

WORLD open water champion Keri-Anne Payne insists she is not ready to call time on her future in the pool in pursuit of Olympic open water glory.

JUGGLING ACT: Keri-Anne Payne is not willing to sacrifice her pool competitions in pursuit of open water glory (Getty Images / British Gas Swimming Championships)

The 22-year old has made waves in marathon swimming since turning her attention to the discipline four years ago, scooping 10km Olympic bronze at Beijing 2008 before lifting the 10km open water title at last summer's World Championships in Rome.

But Payne is the English record holder over 200m and 400m individual medley and has long admitted her heart belongs in the pool.

And while David Davies, who won 1500m freestyle bronze at Athens 2004 and 10km open water silver at Beijing 2008, has hinted he will sacrifice one discipline to better his chances of gold in London, Payne is adamant she will continue to juggle the two.

"I don't see why I should stop my pool swimming," said Payne. "If I can do both of them I don't see why not.

"There's not many people in the world that can do both of them so it shows we've got a good team with the likes of Cassie Patten and David Davies able to do both as well.

"And I don't think David will give the 1500m a miss completely. I think he'll just concentrate on open water swimming but if you're good enough to do both, then why not.

The South African-born swimmer booked her spot on the England team for October's Commonwealth Games at the British Gas Swimming Championships on Saturday, finishing third in the 400m medley.

And with the defence of her open water crown at the World Championships in Roberval, Canada falling in July, Payne is in for a hectic season.

But the Stockport Metro swimmer is determined to compete at her second Commonwealth Games, having come agonisingly close with fourth and fifth places in the 400m and 800m respectively in Melbourne four years ago.

And while she admits adding the open water or pool events at August's European Championships would be too much to handle, Payne insists the time between the World Open Water Championships and the Commonwealth Games makes tapering for both possible.

"The good thing about this year is that there isn't really a massive priority," said Payne.

"They're both on the top of my list really. I would struggle to do them both if the Worlds was a bit later. I would have to give one of them a miss - probably Commonwealths. But luckily they're quite far apart so I'm alright.

"There won't be enough time unfortunately for the Europeans though. The Worlds is just a little bit before so I'll need to get back in the pool and get my head back down to hopefully train for the Commonwealths."

AS IT HAPPENS: Day six from the British Gas Swimming Championships in Sheffield

The nation's leading energy supplier British Gas is the Principal Partner of British Swimming, and have pledged £15m to support the sport at all levels - from paddling pool to podium. For more information visit www.britishgas.co.uk/swimming