Payne baffled by Brits' slur

South-African born swimmer Keri-Anne Payne is baffled by the 'plastic Brits' debate which has escalated recently.

Team GB swimmer believes 'plastic Brits' should be championed

South Africa-born swimmer Keri-Anne Payne says she cannot understand why she and some other Team GB members have been labelled as 'plastic Brits'. The row over the non-English born athletes emerged when American-born hurdler Tiffany Porter was named as British captain for the World Indoor Championships and was challenged by reporters to sing the words to 'God Save The Queen'. The 24-year-old says it baffles her as to why people would not fully accept her and Porter representing their adopted nation. She said: "I don't see why it would be an issue that someone would want to swim or run for Great Britain, surely we should be championing that - why would you have a problem with anybody that is British wanting to compete for Britain. "It confuses me. I think it's their shame if they are not going to stand up and celebrate something she has worked all her life to achieve." The Johannesburg-born athlete left South Africa 11 years ago and has already booked her place in the British Olympic squad for the open water event. Commenting on the issue of the national anthem, Payne said: "I can sing it - you won't want to hear it - and I can also sing the South African one. "I have so much to thank South Africa for - my childhood and it got me into swimming."