Bithell in 2012 call-up

A young sailor from Rochdale has been named as one of the latest members of Team GB for the London 2012 Olympics. 

Stuart Bithell, 25, was named alongside Luke Patience, 25, by the British Olympic Association today.

The pair, who compete in the Men’s 470 Class, have been nominated to Team GB by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), the National Governing Body for the sport of sailing.

Bithell and Patience have been competing together since 2009 and have enjoyed a steady rise in the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) world rankings.

They finished the 2010 season ranked fourth in the world and clinched their place on Team GB by winning the silver medal at the 2011 ISAF World Championships last month in Perth, Australia.

They made their debut in the 470 World Championships in 2009 after having competed together for just two weeks, and brought home a silver medal.

Bithell was introduced to sailing as a seven-year-old at Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club.

He began racing competitively at the age of 12 and became a member of the Skandia Team GBR Development Squad at the age of 18.

Bithell said: "Although we never doubted ourselves, it’s still a big relief to have been selected and to know that we’ll be there on the start line at our first Olympic Games and doing our best to bring home gold.

“As our coach put it when we learned of our selection ‘we’ve climbed one peak, now we need to climb another, and the sunset’s a whole lot nicer from the next one.' It’s a weight off our shoulders, but there’s a lot of hard work still ahead of us.” 

Team GB sailing team leader Stephen Park said: "Campaigning to represent Team GB at the Games in this class is probably the hardest challenge. 

"Luke and Stuart have come a long way since they started sailing together back in 2009, and are a classic example of how getting the right complement of skill sets for helm and crew in the boat can really launch sailors' careers."