HAMPSHIRE'S Nicola Groves is celebrating after being named in the GB sailing team for this summer's Rio Olympics.

Along with Ben Saxton, Southampton-based Groves won the 2015 European Championships in the Nacra 17 mixed multihull event - a category preparing to make its Games debut in Brazil.

Three other sailors have been named in the GB squad.

Nick Dempsey is set to become a five-time Olympian in Rio after the London 2012 silver medallist and Athens 2004 bronze medallist was selected for the RS:X Men’s windsurfing class.

If the double World Champion wins gold in Rio, he will become the most successful men’s Olympic windsurfer in history.

Charlotte Dobson and Sophie Ainsworth, who finished fifth at the 2015 World Championships, will make their Olympic debuts in the 49erFX – a new event for Rio.

The five sailors join those initially selected last September.

However, from those initially selected, the British Olympic Association and Royal Yachting Association have made "the difficult decision" to deselect the 470 Men’s pairing of Luke Patience and Elliot Willis.

Due to Elliot's ongoing treatment for bowel cancer, as a two person crew, the pair are unable to follow the combined training programme required.

Groves, 26, who was born in Surbiton, said: "I was unbelievably excited to get the call saying we’d been selected. I’m now slightly daunted at what we have got to do, but I am looking forward to the challenge.

"The team is so strong, there are some amazing people in it and some absolutely lovely characters.

"I’m really looking forward to them helping me, drawing on their support and encouragement throughout the Games."

Saxton added: "I’m pretty excited to do two things towards the Games - one is get a medal for Nicola and I, and the other is to support the rest of the sailing team as much as possible.

"A lot of our competitors are envious of what we have got - a good mix, with the likes of Nick Dempsey and all of his Olympics experience, as well as some youth and enthusiasm. We bring our own skills so I think as a team we will be able to do something quite special in Rio."

British sailors have established a proud tradition of excellence in Olympic competition, having won 55 medals – including 26 golds – since sailing made its debut at Paris 1900 with Team GB topping the overall Olympic sailing medal table.

Today’s selection takes Team GB's total athlete delegation to 21 from three sports - sailing (11 athletes), shooting (six) and canoe slalom (four).