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Yngling team going for gold in Beijing
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Sarah Ayton insists she is thriving on the pressure that comes with being gold medal favourites as her Yngling crew prepare their charge for glory at the Olympic sailing regatta in Qingdao.
The team of Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson are clear favourites to bring Britain a second consecutive gold medal in the Yngling event, having completely dominated the class over the past couple of years.
Ayton and Webb were part of Shirley Robertson's winning crew in Athens but they have become even more formidable since teaming up with Wilson in late 2006.
The trio have won a host of titles including two consecutive World Championships, the 2007 Olympic test event in Qingdao and this year's European Championship.
"We're well prepared and we're ready for it. We've been working hard to get here and I think we're definitely ready now," said Ayton after her team's practice on Wednesday.
Worried
"It's the Olympics so everyone will be putting their best series together so I think you can't single out one or two teams. Everybody is going to be there or thereabouts.
"For sure, we've going in having won every major event so I'm sure people will be watching us and I'm sure they will be a little worried about what we're going to do here."
A short break in Shanghai with the rest of the British sailing team has helped the team to recharge their batteries and enhance their focus for the task ahead.
"It was really nice to get away a little bit and have some time to relax," the 28-year-old Ayton explained.
"Now we've come back to get ready and give it our best.
"It's our final few days before the start so we're just going out there and practising our final few moves before the start line and around the course.
Fantastic journey
"We had a good day out on the water today."
Getting to the Olympics has been a long and sometimes difficult four-year journey for the 'Yngling Girls' but Ayton feels that all of the effort has been worthwhile.
"We view the Olympics to be the best so you find the money and do whatever you can to ensure that you're here," the team said.
"We're really now here to enjoy the event and hopefully put a good series together that will put us on the podium.
"Our sponsors are very understanding and we've had a fantastic journey to get here.
"I think there's more pressure that we put on ourselves everyday to be the best that we do than our sponsors give us."
