20 Sep 2011

London 2012 Olympic athletes named

Britain’s greatest Olympic sailor, Ben Ainslie, is among the first athletes to be named for London 2012. The 34-year-old describes his selection as “a big relief”.

Britain's greatest Olympic sailor, Ben Ainslie, is among the first athletes to be named for London 2012 (Getty)

The British Olympic Association (BOA) plans to send up to 550 athletes to London 2012 and to field competitors for each of the 26 sports.

Ben Ainslie is among 11 sailors who are the first confirmed names in Team GB’s squad for the Olympic Games.

Britain’s greatest Olympic sailing champion has been locked in a fierce fight for the sole spot in the Finn category since returning to the event last winter after two years away.

“Having my selection for 2012 confirmed is obviously a big relief,” Ainslie said.

He added: “Previous qualification experiences helped, but at the same time having the Olympics in the UK puts that added bit of pressure on. We all want to compete on home waters.

“The competition was strong. Having four top GB sailors battling for qualification meant I had to be at my best in every race.

“Certainly that is a credit to those guys, how well they were sailing and how they pushed me all the way in every event.

Read more: London 2012 - to the finish line and beyond

Other sailors to make the team are: Paul Goodison, the defending champion in the laser; Bryony Shaw, RSX women’s windsurfing; Nick Dempsey, RSX men’s windsurfing; Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson, the defending champions in the star; Hannah Mills, Saskia Clark in the women’s 470 race; Lucy Macgregor, Kate Macgregor and Annie Lush in the Elliott 6m, women’s match racing.

Britain has topped the sailing medal table at the last three Olympics and is the most successful sailing nation ever at the Olympics, bringing home four golds from Beijing 2008.

British sailors have won 50 medals, including 25 gold and the most of any nation, since sailing made its debut at the 1900 Paris Olympic Games.

The Macgregors are the first sisters in British sailing history to be picked for Team GB.

Valuable early selection is reward for a “fantastic year of performances”, Team GB sailing leader Stephen Park said.

Selection trials are going on in the 470 men’s event, the 49er and the Laser Radial.

Two-time Olympic champion Percy, 35, said: “That’s the first hurdle over, but really ever since Beijing we’ve been focusing on July 29 2012, and all the hard work over the past few years has been to make sure we’re in the best possible shape come that day.

“I’m really proud to be representing Team GB at my fourth Olympics. It’s every athlete’s dream to win an Olympic medal at home – so we’ll be giving it our all to be up there on the podium again next year.”