ALISON Young has set her sights on Olympic gold after being selected for the Rio 2016 Games by Team GB coaches.

The Laser Radial sailor from Bewdley was one of a group of eight selected by the British Olympic Association this week.

The 28-year-old has been in consistent form since returning from illness 12 months ago and is currently second in the ISAF rankings.

This will be her second Games after finishing fifth at London 2012.

Young, who now lives in Dorset, said: “I didn’t really expect to get the phone call so I was pretty excited to find out I was being selected. It’s the first essential step in trying to win a gold medal in a year’s time.

“It’s great being part of the British sailing team and at the Games when we all come together as Team GB it adds another level to that, so I’m really excited and it’s a great privilege to represent the UK.

“I love going to Rio and I love sailing there. It throws up a lot of variety of conditions.

“Outside you can get big swell and inside it’s more choppy, more shifty and tide going on. There is a lot to learn about the place. It’s great sailing and a natural amphitheatre with Sugarloaf and Christ the Redeemer so it’s a really great place to go sailing.”

Young finished eighth in the last test event in Rio in August and had also previously won the first taster regatta at Guanabara Bay in 2014.

She suffered a setback when she was laid low by illness but has returned to action by coming second at the Princess Sofia Regatta, as well as winning the Sail World Cup in Melbourne.

She was also fourth in the Portland and Weymouth regatta in June.

Stephen Park OBE, Team GB sailing team leader and RYA Olympic manager, said: “The road to Rio 2016 has just got one step closer for these eight athletes who have displayed fantastic performances during our qualification period so far.”

Giles Scott, Nick Thompson, Luke Patience, Elliot Willis, Hannah Mills, Saskia Clark and Bryony Shaw all join Young in the squad for next year’s sporting extravaganza.