After competing in what's regarded as one of the most brutal sports of the Olympics, Team GB open water swimmer Keri-Anne Payne still had a big smile on her face and took time to speak to her fans. Keri-Anne came seventh in Monday's 10km race, which started from Copocobana beach. She'd originally finished in eighth spot but moved up the rankings after France's Aurelie Muller was disqualified after pushing Italian Rachele Bruni under water at the finish line.
"Thank you SO much for all the support," Keri-Anne tweeted after the event. "You've all helped me fall back in love with this crazy, challenging, amazing sport #thank you.
"When I've had some time to recover I will be all over social media but for now I'm #TeamGB head cheerleader #Olympics."
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© Photo: Getty ImagesTeam GB open water swimmer Keri-Anne Payne finished seventh in Monday's race
This was Keri-Anne's third Olympics, as she'd competed in both Beijing 2008 and London 2012, where she narrowly missed out on a medal and came fourth.
Keri-Anne, who was born in Johannesburg to British parents, certainly looked confident and relaxed the day before the competition when she popped into the P&G salon in Rio for a Max Factor manicure. She opted for patriotic blue and white colours on her nails, as well as a design of the Olympic rings on her ring finger. Products used included Max Factor's Gel Shine Lacquer nail varnish in Lacquered Violet.
The swimmer sported patriotic blue and white colours on her nails
"Less than 24 hours until my race and all the finishing touches are done... Including the all important Olympic nails!" she wrote on her blog.
The P&G salon was created especially for athletes during the Games. Services have included Pantene and Aussie hair styling, Max Factor makeovers and manicures, Gillette shaves and Head & Shoulders haircuts. More than 1,000 athletes from around the world have enjoyed a treatment to date and many more are set to visit the salon.
Team GB sprinter Dina Asher-Smith also paid a visit to the P&G salon
While Keri-Anne didn't get the medal she had expected, she was grateful for the opportunity. "Thank you so much to every single person that has got me to this point over the last 20 years of my swimming career," she wrote on her blog on the eve of the race.
"The last 4 years has been an absolute dream come true, I fell back in love with my sport, I started a new business, I married the best husband ever and my family keep growing and support me through every step of the way!"
