MENU BELIEVE IN EXTRAORDINARY - BRING ON THE GREAT SPORT PROFILER ABOUT US TEAM GB CLUB ROAD TO RIO Team GB sailing team for Rio 2016 announced 09 SEPTEMBER 2015 / 06:30 We’re under 11 months away from the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and today marks a landmark step on Team GB’s journey to Brazil next year with the announcement of the first athletes officially selected to compete at the Games. A total of eight athletes have been selected across six of the ten sailing events who between them have won four Olympic medals and seven World Championship golds. British sailors have established a proud tradition of excellence in Olympic competition, having won 55 medals – including 26 golds – since sailing made its debut at Paris 1900 with Team GB topping the overall Olympic sailing medal table. So, let’s meet the team! Giles Scott: Finn (Men’s One Person Dinghy Heavy) From: Huntingdon Age: 28 After missing out on London 2012 selection to the most decorated Olympic sailor of all time, Sir Ben Ainslie, Giles has dominated the Finn class in the build-up to Rio 2016 and is now unbeaten in two years. That winning streak, which runs from Giles’ return to the Olympic classes in October 2013 following a stint America’s Cup racing, includes victories at the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships and twice at Rio Test Events with the most recent coming in August 2015. Born in Huntingdon, the 28-year-old was an ISAF Youth World Champion in the Laser class in 2005 before migrating into the heavyweight Finn at the end of 2006. He was Finn Junior World Champion in 2008 and has three Finn World Championship medals to his name – two of which are gold. Nick Thompson: Laser (Men’s One Person Dinghy) From: Lymington Age: 29 Nick showed serious signs of his future Olympic credentials when, as an 18-year-old, he took Laser gold at the 2004 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships in Gdynia, Poland. Since then, the Lymington sailor has been a regular on the podium at senior level, with highlights including bronze medals at the 2009 and 2014 World Championships and silver in 2010 and 2011. He finally claimed the top spot of the podium at this summer’s Laser World Championships. Nick just missed out on London 2012 selection as Beijing 2008 gold medallist Paul Goodison took Team GB’s single Laser spot but, in the build up to Rio 2016, the 29-year-old has been in fine form and in addition to his World Championship successes, he is a regular podium finisher on the World Cup circuit. Alison Young: Laser Radial (Women’s One Person Dinghy) From: Bewdley Age: 28 Alison first started sailing at the age of eight and quickly progressed through the classes at junior and youth level before finishing third at the 2005 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships in Korea. In the senior ranks, the Wolverhampton-born sailor has a European Championship bronze to her name and a string of podium finishes at World Cup level. Alison made her Olympic debut at the London 2012 Games, where she finished fifth in the Laser Radial class having been in the medal-chasing group throughout the regatta. With her focus on Rio 2016,the 28-year-old secured a quota place for Team GB after recording a ninth place finish at the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships, following a silver medal at the Rio Test Event a month earlier. Luke Patience and Elliot Willis: 470 Men (Men’s Two Person Dinghy) From: Aberdeen and Sevenoaks Ages: 29 and 32 Luke was a silver medallist at London 2012 alongside Stuart Bithell and is aiming for more success in Rio with Elliot. The pair enjoyed a successful 2014, winning gold at the 470 European Championships, silver at the Rio 2016 Test Event and a fourth place at the 2014 ISAF World Championships, which secured a quota place at the Games. This year Luke and Elliot have picked up top three finishes at World Cups in Hyeres and Miami, including gold in the latter, and have their sights firmly set on gold at Rio 2016. Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark: 470 Women (Women’s Two Person Dinghy) From: Cardiff and Colchester Ages: 27 and 36 London 2012 silver medallists Hannah and Saskia have continued to impress over the last three years, with the pair’s recent tally including silver medals at the 2014 and 2015 Rio Test Events, bronze at the 2014 World Championships and World Cup gold on their home waters of Weymouth and Portland in June this year. The pair first teamed up with 470 in February 2011 and the pair saw immediate success on the water. A silver medal at the 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships was followed by gold at the 2012 470 World Championships. Saskia is also a two-time Olympian having first had her taste of the Olympic Games at Beijing 2008 when she finished sixth alongside Christina Bassadone in the women’s 470 class. Bryony Shaw: RS:X Women (Women’s Windsurfer) From: Wandsworth Age: 32 Beijing 2008 bronze medallist Bryony first began windsurfing as a nine-year-old when away on holiday with her family in the south of France. The Wandsworth-born windsurfer has been a regular on the podium at major events, winning medals at European and World Championships as well as her success in Beijing. Bryony’s Olympic bronze was Team GB’s first ever women’s windsurfing medal. Four years later at London 2012, after an illness-marred season, Bryony finished seventh - 12 points off a second bronze medal - as Spain’s Marina Alabau took gold. At the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships the 32-year-old finished fifth in the women’s RS:X class to qualify Team GB a quota spot for Rio 2016 and followed her silver a year earlier at the RS:X World Championships. In 2015, Bryony has secured World Cup wins in Miami and Abu Dhabi as well as gold at the RS:X European Championships in Sicily. 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