Ainslie on course for fourth gold

Ben Ainslie
12 April 2012

Ben Ainslie has been selected to compete at London 2012 - keeping him on course to fight for his fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal.

Ainslie is among 11 sailors who are the first confirmed names in Team GB's 550-strong squad for the Games.

The 34-year-old from Lymington said: "Having my selection for 2012 confirmed is obviously a big relief."

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.

The likes of the improving Giles Scott, Ed Wright, Mark Andrews and Andrew Mills were all realistic choices for Olympic selection after Ainslie's plans to sail big boats and win the America's Cup were scuppered.

Ainslie continued: "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.

"It's now all about getting the plans right for my fitness and preparation to peak at the right time, you don't want to reach burnout and the Olympics are the end goal."

The sailors who got their Olympic call-up include: Ben Ainslie in the Finn; 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 and Saskia Clark in the women's 470 race; Lucy Macgregor, Kate Macgregor and Annie Lush in the Elliott 6m, Women's Match Racing.

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