Ben Ainslie looked to be losing more than just his Laser World Championship title this week.

At one stage in the Mexico regatta, he looked to be so far off the pace, his qualification for the Olympic Games was in jeopardy.

But the 22-year-old Ainslie (pictured) from Lymington, named recently as the 1999 Yachtsman of the Year, fought back hard on the final day of the event to finish third.

It takes the Laser class out of the pre-Olympic trials in Weymouth next month and confirms his place on the start line at the Sydney games in September.

But it was a nerve-wracking week for the 1996 Olympic silver medallist and his supporters as he dropped down the leaderboard, finding himself in fifth place going into the last day's racing, with three times World Champion Robert Scheidt, Ainslie's long time rival, already assured of his fourth title.

The final race proved to be crucial. At the top mark, USA's Mark Mendleblatt led, followed by Sweden's Karl Suneson and Brazil's Jao Signorini. With Australian Michael Blackburn and Ben Ainslie well back, Suneson was set for second place overall.

But the determined Ainslie made a fierce push and, by the second windward mark, was able to get close enough to Suneson to try and draw him into a foul. Pushing Suneson out to the left, he sailed low to hold the Swede from tacking.

When Suneson did eventually tack, a classic port-and-starboard situation ensued. Drawing away down the run, Ainslie went on to win the race.

A protest between the pair found in favour of the British sailor after a long hearing, leaving him with the bronze medal.

Ainslie had earlier acknowledged the struggle he was experiencing in getting on top of the conditions in Cancun.

"It was hard work. I was pretty disappointed. I don't seem to have been able to get a first beat right since the second day," commented Ainslie.

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