HE is the most successful Olympic sailor in history.

But now life is awash with romance for Hampshire's Sir Ben Ainslie as he announces his relationship with television presenter Georgie Thompson.

The pair, both 36, met through friends three years ago at an event but only began dating in April.

Georgie previously worked as a presenter on Sky Sports in the UK but moved to New York earlier this year for her new job as a panellist for Fox Sports.

Daily Echo:

In 2011 she ended her relationship with Ant and Dec's Declan Donnelly after two years, reporting the reason being his lack of decisiveness about their future together.

Four-time Olympic gold medallist, Sir Ben's former girlfriends include sailors 25-year-old Marit Bouwmeester, from Holland and Boel Bengtsson from Sweden, who he was with for most of his 20s Last week he paid a flying visit to his home town of Lymington before nipping off to Bermuda to prepare for the Argo Gold Cup.

Daily Echo:

Later this month he will be awarded the Freedom of Lymington and Pennington.