Cassie is stung into action
Cassie Patten delivered Britain's first medal of the FINA World Championships in Melbourne when she overcame a testing 10km open water course, the agony of being stung by jellyfish and a world-class field to take the silver.
The 20-year-old from Stockport Metro took the lead on the final of four 2.5km laps and bravely tried to fend off the challenge of Russia's Larisa Ilchenko, who eventually took the gold in an exciting finish.
Ilchenko finished the course in two hours three minutes and 57.9 seconds, Patten was second in 2:03.58.9 and Australian Kate Brookes-Peterson took the bronze in 2:03.59.5.
Jellyfish proved to be the biggest problem for the 42 open water swimmers, with not one of the field leaving the water without being stung repeatedly.
A tearful Patten said: "I'm feeling quite emotional at the moment but it's pure happiness.
"I'm tired and very sore as I was stung a lot on my arms, legs and face - they even got me through my costume. It felt like hundreds and for some of the swimmers it was just too much.
"The stings were very painful but I tried to concentrate on getting to the end, and to be honest they helped to keep you alert as you're out there for such a long time."
