Olympic bride’s sure of gold

They say that planning a wedding is one of the most stressful times of a woman’s life.
But when you are an athlete preparing for the London Olympics, it becomes a ‘welcome distraction’.
Open-water swimmer Keri-Anne Payne, 24, will marry fellow swimmer David Carry, 30, in the grounds of his parent’s home in Scotland just one month after the Games.

In true superwoman fashion, the gold medal hopeful trains six days a week and spends her seventh day trying on wedding dresses and drawing up guest lists.
‘I am not sure quite where people get that idea from that planning a wedding is stressful,’ says the South African-born sportswoman.
‘It’s a great distraction. The Olympics and the wedding are both exciting but my wedding is the beginning of a new life, so that is probably the most exciting of the two.’
Keri-Anne, who won silver in Beijing in 2008, became one of the first athletes to qualify for London 2012.
The attention that followed — including lucrative deals with cosmetics companies and photoshoots for glossy magazines —has been a bonus.
‘It’s a bit embarrassing when people say I’m a pin-up, she says.
‘But, I’m enjoying the glamorous side of it. It’s nice to get out of a swimming costume and have my hair and make-up done.’
She will compete at the British Gas Swimming Championships next week at the Aquatics Centre, in the Olympic Park, east London.