A 21-year-old swimmer from St Cleer will be representing Britain at the Beijing Olympics.

Cassie Patten is set to compete in her first Olympic Games, jetting out with Great Britain team-mates today to compete in the 10km open water event and the 800m freestyle.

It will be the first time that the 10km open water event has featured in the Olympics and it will see competitors battle it out in the Rowing Basin at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing Canoeing park, swimming four loops of the 2.5km course.

Cassie is currently the European open water champion and also received a silver medal at the World open water championships in Melbourne last year, despite being stung by jellyfish.

Support

In her build up, Cassie has received help from SportsAid, an organisation which offers support to the country's most talented emerging sports stars.

Cassie, who attended Fowey Community College, now lives in Stockport and swims with the Stockport Metro club.

Previously she swam for the Plymouth Leander swimming club.

She said: 'It's hard to say in words what my family has done for me, it has cost them an absolute fortune to support me and I've got a great sister in Lucy who has never shown any envy at my success.

'I will also never forget what Plymouth Leander did for me.

'It was there that the international swimming world opened up to me and I have the fondest memories of the club.'