HAMPSHIRE dinghy ace Nick Thompson says he is hungrier than ever for gold two years ahead of the 2016 Olympics.

The Lymington sailor has finished on the podium at each of the three major Olympic warm-up events this year.

And with the clock ticking to the Rio games, Thompson is gearing up to return to the Brazilian city for more training in December.

Despite being one of the best sailors in the UK for years, the 28-year-old has narrowly missed out on representing Team GBR at the Olympics so far.

But he is favourite to take the single space in the Laser class for the 2016 Olympics and has only one goal – to bring home gold.

Reflecting on his 2014 season, he said: “Winning bronze at the Santander World Championships was a great end to a successful season for me, and I’m chuffed to have been on the podium at each of the three major events – the Worlds, the Europeans and the Rio Test Event – this year. “What’s especially pleasing is that those three events have seen a real mix of conditions, so to show the consistency that I have and the ability to perform across the wind range has been really important to me. “The best all-round sailors, who can best adapt to what’s going on around them, are the ones who thrive at the Olympic Games and that will certainly be important for a complicated venue like Rio.

“With what we’ve seen this year, I think I’m in a good place.

“To go into the Worlds medal race with a shout of winning as I did – and have at all the key events this year – is a great place to be and there’s no doubt that I am hungrier than ever for gold.”

Thompson will jet out to Rio next month to train on the same waters that will host the Olympics in two years’ time.

He added: “Every time I go there, I enjoy it more. There was a great team energy and drive during our visit for the Test Event in August – due in no small part to our support staff. “I’m in a good place with my sailing at the moment. “Progress has been made for sure this year, but I know that I still have areas to improve on, and others are working hard to raise their games as well. “It’s that knowledge that excites me for the journey ahead.”