LYMINGTON'S double Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie will have the chance to defend his Olympic crown in Beijing, as the 30-year-old is one of nine sailors to have today been officially selected by the British Olympic Association to compete at the 2008 Games.

Ainslie earned the nod from Royal Yachting Association selectors for the single berth in the heavyweight Finn class following his impressive showing at the Sydney International Regatta last month, where his dominant performance, coupled with back-to-back wins at the two Olympic Test Regattas at Qingdao in 2006 and 2007, sealed his nomination to compete at a fourth Olympic Games.

Already the owner of a silver medal from Atlanta 1996 as well as golds from the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Games, Ainslie looks set to be one of Great Britain's most decorated Olympians to be competing in Beijing, and he's relishing the challenge of going for his third straight Olympic gold.

Ainslie said: "It is fantastic news to be chosen to defend my Olympic Finn title in Beijing, and I am very honoured to be given the opportunity to once again represent my country at the Olympics."

Meanwhile, fellow South Coast sailing stars Sherborne's Andrew Simpson and Pippa Wilson, from Lymington, have also had their nomination for Team GB' - the British Olympic Association's team for the Beijing 2008 Olympics - officially ratified by the BOA and the duo will be joining Ainslie in China.