Brown praises Olympic heroes

2:58pm Wednesday 20th August 2008

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Gordon Brown has lavished praise on the UK's Olympic athletes as Team GB celebrated further gold medal success.

The Prime Minister, speaking in Downing Street ahead of his trip to Beijing later this week, said the performance was setting Britain on course perfectly for the London games in 2012.

"I think we've all been joyously watching the Olympics, to win at cycling, sailing and now on the track...and yet another set of great gold medals," he said.

"It is a huge tribute to the Olympic team. I look forward to congratulating them in person.

"It bodes so well for 2012 and I think the whole nation is totally delighted and really proud at everything that's been achieved."

Swimmers Keri-Anne Payne and Cassie Patten later claimed silver and bronze in the 10km open water race.

Payne and Patten led for much of the race before being overtaken by Russian world champion Larisa Ilchenko in the closing stages, who crossed the finishing line in a time of one hour 59 minutes 27.77 seconds.

Payne came home in 1.59.29 with Patten finishing in 1.59.31.

The early success added to Britain's burgeoning medal tally which now stands at 35 with 16 golds, 10 silvers and nine bronzes.