Each week on Olympic Countdown we profile an athlete who could shine in Beijing. This week: Ben Ainslie.

The British sailor is gunning for his third successive Olympic gold medal but, believe it or not, he had to really 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 just this week was named in British Olympic Association's nine-person sailing squad.

Ainslie now has the chance to defend the gold medal he won in the Finn class at the Athens Games.

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.

Seán Fay / Eurosport