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Ben Ainslie is gunning for his third successive Olympic gold medal - but he had to fight hard for a place in the British team for Beijing.

With only one place up for grabs in the Finn class for a Briton, Ainslie had to compete with Ed Wright - who would also have been a medal contender had he made the team - for the solitary spot.

However, Ainslie won the two test regattas at the Olympic sailing venue in Qingdao in 2006 and 2007 and was therefore named in the British Olympic Association's squad.

Ainslie now has the chance to defend the Finn gold he won in Athens.

The Macclesfield man used to compete in Lasers and won gold in this class in Sydney and silver in Atlanta. He has also been awarded an OBE for his services to sailing.

Recently, Ainslie worked as a tactician with Emirates Team New Zealand in the America's Cup. He has also been appointed skipper of TEAMORIGIN, the new British entry that intends to compete for the 33rd and 34th America's Cups.

Still only 30, Ainslie is relishing the prospect of competing for his third gold in Beijing.

"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," he said.

FULL TEAM:

Finn: Ben Ainslie

Yngling - women's keelboat: Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson

49er - skiff: Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes

Laser - men's one person dinghy: Paul Goodison

Star: Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson

RS:X - men's windsurfer: Nick Dempsey

RS:X - women's windsurfer: Bryony Shaw

470 - men's two person dinghy: Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield

470 - women's two person dinghy: Christina Bassadone and Saskia Clark

Tornado - multihull: Leigh McMillan and Will Howden

Laser Radial: Penny Clark

BEIJING MEDAL TARGET: 4

Seán Fay / Eurosport