The silver medallist of the women's marathon 10km has today been disqualified after she wrestled with another competitor who came third.

The drama happened as France's Aurelie Muller and Italy's Rachele Bruni crossed the line.

Muller appeared to grapple Bruni out of the way in the nail-bitingly close finish, to come second.

But her glory was short-lived as she was stripped of her medal-winning position for her role in the incident.

British swimmer Keri-Anne Payne originally placed eighth in the gruelling event, but was bumped up to seventh after Muller's disqualification.

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This is the moment French swimmer Aurelie Muller grappled Italy's Rachele Bruni as they approached the finish line

Aurelie appears to grab Bruni's right arm as she goes in to place her hand on the board

Muller successfuly grapples Bruni out of the way in the nail-bitingly close finish, to come second

The gold medal in the women's 10km swimming race went to Dutch competitor Sharon Van Rouwendaal (pictured), with a time of 1:56:32.1

Aurelie Muller (right) looks dejected after she was stripped of her silver medal

Silver medalist Rachele Bruni of Italy poses on the podium during the medal ceremony for the women's 10km marathon swimming

The gold medal went to Sharon Van Rouwendaal, with a time of 1:56:32.1; the silver to Italy's Bruni with a time of 1:56:49.5; and bronze to Brazil's Poliana Okimoto with a time of 1:56:51.4.

Payne finished with a time of 1:57:23.9, after competitors from China, the US and Germany.

The 28-year-old Briton had hoped to top her silver medal from the 2008 Beijing Games in the 10km event, after achieving an agonising fourth place in London 2012.

The disappointed swimmer was fighting back tears in an interview after the race.

‘I’m probably being a bit emotional because of all of the people that have helped me get here and that’s not how I wanted the race to go,’ she told the BBC.

Aurelie Muller of France during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games women's 10km marathon swimming at Fort Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro

French athlete Aurelie Muller finished in second place initially, but was stripped of her medal-winning position

French athlete Aurelie Muller came in second initially, but was stripped of her medal-winning position after it was ruled she had grappled with Italy's Rachele Bruni at the finish

Just three teaspoons of the filthy water in Guanabara Bay would be enough to almost certainly infect athletes with viruses that can cause stomach and respiratory illnesses, according to a 16-month testing programme

The gold medal went to Sharon Van Rouwendaal, with a time of 1:56:32.1; the silver to Italy's Bruni

Muller and Bruni were neck and neck as they approached the finish, moments before their grapple to cross the line

(From left to right) Silver medallist Rachele Bruni of Italy, gold medallist Sharon van Rouwendaal of the Netherlands and bronze medallist Poliana Okimoto of Brazil pose on the podium during the medal ceremony

British marathon swimmer Keri-Anne Payne came in seventh today, but she had hoped to top her silver medal from the 2008 Beijing Games in the 10km event

The swimmer (pictured at Copacabana Beach in Rio) was confidant ahead of her race despite the furore over the filthy waters off the Rio coastline

'My preparation has been the best possible and I am so excited to race the 10k marathon swim tomorrow in the iconic Copacabana!' said swimmer Payne (pictured)

Haley Anderson, the only US athlete competing in the race, finished fifth

‘I was hoping for rough, choppy conditions today, but it was the perfect race for pool swimmers which I think is why you saw Sharon [van Rouwendaal] who’s a 400m world silver medallist become an Olympic champion today.’

Haley Anderson, the only US athlete competing in the race, finished fifth with a time of 1:57:20.

The disqualification has sparked fury among French swimming fans online, with some even voicing suspicion now that the new bronze medallist is a Brazilian.

One user wrote: 'Bizarrely after the disqualification of Aurelie Muller, it's a Brazilian who climbs onto the podium.'

Another added: 'It's really shameful to disqualify Aurelie Muller and not the Italian. Nice sportsmanship in Rio.'

But the athletes may have struggled to keep their minds on the prize after health warnings to athletes not to ingest any water.

Former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies told Payne before the race: 'Good luck hun, swim fast, don't drink the water and enjoy Rio.'

A body floats in the waters of Guanabara Bay, near to Copacabana Beach where 28-year-old Payne raced against 25 competitors for the 10km marathon swim

Health officials raised concern about the filthy water of Guanabara Bay (pictured), which contains raw sewage, rubbish, debris and rats

In the build up to the Olympics, the pollution problems got so bad in the Guanabara Bay that officials moving sailing and rowing boats were using gloves while medical staff were on standby to treat cuts for infection

Health authorities warned that just three teaspoons of the filthy water would be enough to almost certainly infect athletes with viruses that can cause stomach and respiratory illnesses, according to a 16-month testing programme.

The British swimmer had been optimistic going into today's race.

'The last four years have 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 keeps growing and support me through every step of the way!' she said.

'My preparation has been the best possible and I am so excited to race the 10k marathon swim tomorrow in the iconic Copacabana!

'I will be fighting all the way and knowing that everyone back home (and in Rio) is supporting me will give me that extra boost I need when things get really hard!'

The swimmer added that all her last minute preparations were done, including the 'all important' Olympic nails - she posted a snapshot of the Olympic rings painted on one nail

Following her disappointment at the London Olympics - when a mistake meant she was 'swum over' by other competitors - Payne had undergone an unorthodox training regime

The swimmer said yesterday that all her last minute preparations were done, including the 'all important' Olympic nails - she posted a snapshot showing the Olympic rings painted on one nail.

Following her disappointment at the London Olympics - when a mistake meant she was 'swum over' by other competitors - Payne had undergone an unorthodox training regime.

'It was a choice between carrying on swimming or calling it a day,' she revealed, about why she took a year out of the circuit in 2014.

'[It was] a very unorthodox move with the Olympic Games just two years later but it was a huge part of what I needed to do.

'I travelled the world meeting amazing people. I've been in races I've never been able to do before because travel was either too long or it was the wrong time of season.

'I raced in cold water and I competed where there was a mix of men and women to get used to the fighting element of the sport.'

Waste litters the water as two sailors prepare for a training session at Rio de Janeiro's Guanabara Bay

A doll's head splashes among the trash and untreated sewerage in the waters of Guanabara Bay

Payne even learned judo from fellow Olympians Gemma Gibbons and Euan Burton, to her bolster her competitive spirit.

Copacabana Beach, where Payne's even will take place, has however been plagued by setbacks.

Health officials raised concern about the filthy water, which contains raw sewage, rubbish, debris and rats.

In the build up to the Olympics, the pollution problems got so bad in the Guanabara Bay that officials moving sailing and rowing boats were using gloves while medical staff were on standby to treat cuts for infection.

Meanwhile, a 16-month testing report released by the Associated Press showed the Olympic sites had dangerous levels of adenoviruses – viruses that cause infections of the lungs, stomach and intestine.

Competitors taking part in some of the aquatic events in the Guanabara Bay – where a severed arm and floating corpse were found in the past months - were warned not to open their mouths.

It comes after the 26 competitors were told they would have to begin the race by walking into the water from the beach and then starting in a line as a 'Plan C' option after the starting pontoon was swept away and ended up on the beach on Friday night.

Organisers were unable to source a replacement over the weekend.