West Mersea's Saskia Clark is one of eight sailors who are the first to be named in the Team GB squad for Rio 2016.

Clark, along with Hannah Mills, will compete for Great Britain in the 470 women's class at next year's event, where they will be looking to go one better than their silver medal at London 2012.

Clark and Mills claimed silver at last month's Olympic Test Event, in Rio.

But Clark, who will be competing in her third Olympic Games, feels they still have plenty of work to do between now and the start of next year's main event.

She said: “We have a lot to learn to about the venue in Rio and obviously we are really pleased to have come away from both Test Events with a medal, not the win, but medals prove we’re close.

“We have a year to go, all our competitors have a year to go still as well, so we are not planning on slowing down and thinking the job is done.

“We have a very busy year ahead to keep improving and to keep improving at a faster rate than anyone we are sailing against.”

Team GB sailing team leader Stephen Park said: "These eight athletes have displayed fantastic performances during our qualification period.

"They have proven they have what it takes to win medals for the United Kingdom at the highest level, and their selections today allow them good time to focus on preparing for the challenging sailing venue that Rio undoubtedly is."

For more in this story, see the Daily Gazette.