Ben Ainslie has been given the chance to compete for a third Olympic gold medal after the sailor was today picked as one of the first nine members of the British team for August's Beijing Games.

Ainslie's inclusion at the expense of Ed Wright had been expected and he now has the chance to add to the golds he won in Athens and Sydney, and the silver at Atlanta in 1996.

The athletes named by the British Olympic Association are all sailors. They are: Ainslie (Finn class), Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson (Yngling), Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes (49er), Paul Goodison (Laser), and Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson (Star).

Simon Clegg, chief executive of the British Olympic Association, said: "Sailing is one of our core sports, one which has medalled consistently over many years, and which claimed five medals at the Athens 2004 Olympics.

"The disappointing thing is that each country is limited to to one boat in each class. We have considerable strength in depth but it is the International Sailing Federation's decision to limit the number of athletes in each class to one boat."

Ainslie, 30, won the two test regattas at the Qingdao, the Olympic sailing venue, in 2006 and 2007. He 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."

Ainslie added he was keen to compete at the London Olympics in 2012 but he is also contracted to Team Origin to sail in the America's Cup, which could possibly conflict with him qualifying.

Stephen Park, the Royal Yachting Association's Olympic manager, said: "This marks the beginning of the home straight in sailing's preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games, where we hope to surpass our target of three medals."

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