Olympic sailing: Mills sets sights on Rio gold after 470 selection

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Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark in actionImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark won the World Cup regatta in Poland in June 2015

Hannah Mills is determined to go one better than London 2012 by claiming gold in the 470 class at the Olympic sailing regatta in 2016.

Mills, 27, and sailing partner Saskia Clark, 36, have been included in the Great Britain team for the Rio event.

The pair were second in London, but Mills from Dinas Powys near Cardiff is concentrating on victory next year.

"The silver in London was obviously amazing but for us it's all about the gold medal," she said.

"There's nothing quite like standing on top of the podium.

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Britain has been the most successful sailing team at the last three Olympic regattas

"It's a funny thing - silver, bronze - but the gold is so much better isn't it?

"We can't wait to have another go, we feel lucky to be in this position and in a position where we are one of the top competing boats in our class and just really excited to have a go."

Mills and Clark were second in the Olympic test event in Rio in August, after incurring a time penalty in the medal race.

However, their form over the past years ensured Britain had a boat qualified for the 470 class and their efforts were rewarded when they were named as the British pair for the event in 2016 Olympics.

The sailors were the first competitors confirmed for Team GB, to Mills' delight.

"It's a huge honour to be named as the first members of team GB for Rio, it's a bit surreal and I'm really emotional and happy," she added.

"We took a year out after London and started again in 2013, and steadily we've been building ourselves up as a team again and building our confidence again.

"In this last year we've made massive improvements in a lot of areas and it's really showing in our results.

"We're close to the front and definitely where you want to be a year out."

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