OPEN WATER Olympian Patten retires from swimming
- Details
- Last Updated on Wednesday, 10 October 2012 00:37
- Published on Tuesday, 01 November 2011 12:38
Cornwall’s 2008 Olympic open water bronze medallist Cassandra Patten has announced her retirement from swimming due to an ongoing shoulder injury.
Cardinham-born Patten, 24, won bronze in Beijing and has two World Championship 10 km Open Water silvers.
Patten said: “I’ll miss everything about swimming. I’m not retiring because I don’t love the sport anymore it is just because my body won’t let me.
“I have been carrying a shoulder injury for a number of months. I didn’t want to talk about it in the run up to the World Championships and did everything I possibly could to overcome it. After some time at home I came to the tough decision to retire.”
Former Plymouth College student Patten paid tribute to all the coaches she has swum for during her career; at Bodmin, Plymouth Leander and more recently Sean Kelly at the British Gas ITC in Stockport – who coached Patten to her Olympic and World medals - and Russ Barber at City of Sheffield.
“I have been lucky enough to swim at four great clubs during my career and have competed with and against some great swimmers.
“I never thought I would retire before 2012, to compete at the trials was always my goal but I am now back home in Plymouth and will take some time out before doing some travelling and then hopefully next year I’ll go to University.”
British Swimming National Performance Director Michael Scott said: “Cassie has had an outstanding career both in the pool and open water and she has been a great role model and ambassador for the sport.”
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