Payne represents Cooks in Singapore

Last weekend Tepaia Payne represented the Cook Islands at the 5th FINA short course World Series in Singapore on November 4 and 5.

The two day event was attended by 128 swimmers from 53 nations and was the competition Ian Thorpe also attended for his comeback into the Olympics.

Payne continues to improve under the guidance of his coach Eric Lander from Holland who was also at the event with the Brunei Swim team.

Accompanied by his father, Bryn, Payne said it was a great atmosphere.

Payne will compete in all recognised International FINA swim competitions, including the Oceania Swimming Championships in Noumea from May 28 to June 12, 2012 as part of his build up for the Olympic Games in London 2012.

He is working hard towards this goal. He achieved personal best times of 55.33s in the 100m freestyle, 27.68s in the 50m butterfly, 25.20s in the 50m freestyle and 204.9 in the 200m freestyle.

Payne trains nine times a week (19 hrs including gym work) under coach Lander and has Sunday as his rest day.

He says it is very hard work but the results keep improving and that is his motivation.

His next swimming competition is the local BASA swim meet to be held in Brunei, where the Payne family live, in November.