THE three sailors from the Helensburgh area named in Team GB’s squad for the Tokyo Olympics will still be part of the squad when the rescheduled Games take place next summer, it was confirmed this week.

The British Olympic Association (BOA) and Royal Yachting Association (RYA) announced on Tuesday that all 15 of the sailors previously named in the squad – including the Rhu pair of Charlotte Dobson and Luke Patience, and Shandon’s Anna Burnet – will retain their places in the Team GB line-up next summer.

The announcement follows the decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to postpone this summer’s Games by 12 months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mark Robinson, the RYA’s Olympic performance manager and Team GB’s sailing team leader, said: “I am delighted to re-confirm the 15 athletes already selected for Team GB will stay the same for the rescheduled Games.

“Over the past eight months we have nominated an incredibly talented group of sailors to the British Olympic Association and we strongly believe they remain the right athletes to represent the nation in 2021.”

READ MORE: Tears of joy as Burnet is named in Team GB squad for Tokyo Olympics

Patience and Dobson were among the first 12 sailors named in the squad back in October, with Patience partnering Chris Grube in the men’s 470 class and Dobson pairing up with Saskia Tidey in the 49er FX category.

And in February, Burnet and her sailing partner John Gimson were chosen for the Nacra 17 class, alongside Laser sailor Elliot Hanson, with all three set for their Olympic debuts.

Burnet’s place in the team was announced just weeks after she and Gimson won gold at the World Championships in Australia – an event at which Dobson and Tidey secured silver.

Also retaining her place in the Team GB squad is another debutant, Eilidh McIntyre, whose father, Mike, is a former pupil at Hermitage Academy and who won gold in the Star class at the Seoul Olympics in 1988.

McIntyre will partner Hannah Mills – winner of a gold medal at the 2016 Games in Rio, and a silver at London 2012 – in the women’s 470 two-person dinghy class.

READ MORE: Dobson, Patience and McIntyre heading to Tokyo with Team GB

After being asked by the BOA to consider its position regarding the selection of athletes for Team GB, the RYA’s Olympic selection committee unanimously agreed that the sailors previously chosen for the squad should retain their places.

Robinson added: “The global pandemic has caused much uncertainty but, combined with release of the new dates for the Olympic Games, this decision will give our sailors the confidence, clarity and motivation to charge towards Tokyo 2020 and the goal of bringing home medals for Team GB.”

Mark England, Team GB chef de mission for Tokyo 2020, said: “We are delighted with the sailing team selected for the Games and think they bring a great mix of proven Olympic success along with exciting new talent.

“We feel with the re-confirmation of these names, the athletes can firmly set their sights on next July and ensure that when training resumes they can thoroughly prepare and be in the best possible position to show Team GB supporters and the world, what they’re capable of in Tokyo.”

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