Beijing - Russian eight-time world champion Larisa Ilchenko proved too strong for her competitors at the 10-kilometre open-water swimming event at the Beijing Olympics on Wednesday. The 19-year-old managed to beat the British duo of Keri-Anne Payne and Cassandra Paten on the final stretch after the two had been leading for most of the race, which was swum in the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park.
Ilchenko, who became the first Russian open-water world champion when she won gold over the 5km distance in Dubai in 2004, won in a time of 1 hour 59.27, beating South African-born Payne by 1.5 seconds.
Paten was a further 1.8 seconds behind.
Wednesday's race was the first time that open-water swimming was held at the Olympics, although it has been on the world championship calendar since 2001.
The men's 10km race will be held at the same venue on Thursday.
