Patten desperate for first race

Patten begins her Olympic events at the Beijing Watercube

Liskeard-born swimmer Cassie Patten says she cannot wait to start competing at the 2008 Olympics.

The former Plymouth College pupil competes in the 800m freestyle as well as the first-ever 10km open water swim.

"I'm really looking forward to racing because that's what I've been training so hard to do," the 21-year-old told BBC Radio Cornwall.

Patten's first race is the 800m heats at the Beijing Watercube on Thursday 14 August, with the final two days later.

She then has a four-day break before racing in the 10km open water swim at the rowing lake in Beijing.

Patten has revealed she made a great personal sacrifice to ensure she got to the games.

A strict vegetarian for most of her life, she has started to eat meat since January.

"My coach made me start eating chicken because I wasn't getting enough protein," she said.