The double world champion clocked a time of 2 hours 12min 18.7sec to finish ahead of Brazil's Ana Marcela Cunha and Germany’s Isabelle Harle, who came second and third respectively.

Payne, the 10km open water world champion in 2009 and 2011, led a field of 15 athletes in the race as she continues her preparations for another shot at Olympic gold having had to settle for silver at Beijing 2008 and fourth place at London 2012.

Meanwhile in the 22-strong men’s event, Brazil’s Allan do Carmo claimed victory on home soil with a time of 2:03:53.9, beating Japan’s Yasunari Hirai by just half-a-second as Canada’s Richard Weinberger completed the podium. 

Rio 2016’s Copacabana Bay venue manager, Bernardo Villano, was happy with the running of the event despite the much publicised concerns surrounding water pollution at the venue. 

"Overall, we can say that the results have been positive," he told the Rio Times.

"Fort Copacabana is on the right track for the Rio 2016 Games."

Earlier this month, Michael Phelps' coach Bob Bowman claimed he has "great concerns" over the state of Copacabana Bay, stemming from working with two athletes - the United States's Kalyn Keller and Chip Peterson - who, he believes, suffered long-term damage after competing in the same waters at the 2007 Pan American Games.

Concerns have been raised over high-levels of pollution at venues for all water sports to be held at the Olympics and Paralympics, consisting of Copacabana Bay, the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas where rowing and canoe sprint will be held, and the Guanabara Bay sailing venue, where the gravest fears have been expressed.

The second and last sailing test event before next year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games took place this past week amid increasing fears over the safety of athletes following an Associated Press investigation last month reporting major risks of athletes contracting viruses from the water.

South Korean windsurfer Cho Wonwoo and one other unnamed competitor were taken ill during the regatta, with Cho's coach speculating it was connected to the water, although the event has been hailed as a success by Rio 2016. 


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