Russia’s Larisa Ilchenko has won the women’s 10km marathon swim at the Beijing Olympics setting a time of 1 hour 59 minutes and 27 seconds.

Keri-Anne Payne from Great Britain won the silver medal and Cassie Patten also from Great Britain won the bronze medal.

“I’m very happy, It was a really hard race,” Ilchenko told reporters. “The two British girls were very strong.”

Ilchenko is famous for swimming in the wake of other swimmers, saving energy and making a final charge at the finish line.

“It’s what she does, everyone has their own tactics, it doesn’t bother me,” Payne said.

“It was tough, but a good race for me. We were hoping we were far enough ahead to stop her coming back, but she did. I think she was surprised, we definitely had her worried.”

South Africa’s amputee swimmer Natalie du Toit finished 16th.