Clark targets sailing gold medal

Clark started sailing when she was eight years old

Essex sailor Saskia Clark is confident she can come back from the Olympic Games in Beijing with a gold medal.

The 28-year-old from West Mersea will make her Olympic debut alongside sailing partner Christina Bassadone in the 470 double-handed class.

She told BBC Essex: "We've worked hard for the past year on our weaknesses from this point last year.

"We definitely go out to Beijing with expectations high - we definitely think we can come back with a gold medal.

She added: "We're not going as favourites, but I think we feel confident in the work we've done.

"I think there's probably five or six other boats that, on anyone's day, could win it and we're definitely one of those boats."

"Clark and Bassadone have spent much of the past few months in China preparing for the games, where the sailing conditions are quite different from those found in Europe.

Clark explained: "It'll be very tough - with light winds and [with it being] tidal.

So I think it's going to be about keeping calm under pressure, not getting stressed that we're not getting the racing in, and being ready to race when they do send us out, and doing the business when we need to."

The pair's first two races are scheduled to take place on 11 August.