ATHLETES have spoken of their delight and relief at being chosen for the Olympic and Paralympic squads.

There was fierce competition within the British squad for selection for all the last three classes – the Olympic Laser Radial dinghy and 49er high performance skiff, and the Paralympic 2.4mR keelboat.

All the athletes said the added competition spurred them on and encouraged the best out of every athlete.

In the Laser Radial, Alison Young, 24, was selected over Weymouth’s Charlotte Dobson.

Young, who has lived on Portland for the last three years, said: “It has been quite a close deal between me and Charlotte. We both push each other on, but it’s a relief to be selected.”

She added: “Hopefully we will be working as training partners to push forward and get a medal.”

49er sailors Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes, who represented the UK in the class at Beijing in 2008, said that it had been a tough selection as all the teams were very talented.

They said all the teams had sat down and discussed it and that whoever was selected they would all get behind them.

Rhodes said that when everyone got on the water they had to be ‘ruthless’.

He said: “We want to go out and prove ourselves to the coaches and to ourselves.”

The team effectively live in the borough through the week and return home to Devon at the weekend.

They said they hoped people would come out this summer and support the sailors.

Morrison said: “I love watching sport and it’s the chance to see the best sailors in the world competing for the best prize in sailing right in front of you.”

He added: “I hope parents will look at it and see it’s an accessible sport. It’s portrayed as being a rich man’s sport but it’s accessible to all ages.”

He hopes the Games will encourage young people into sport.

The pair, who have known each other for 20 years, said that their friendship was one of their ‘greatest strengths’.

Rhodes said: “It’s a huge benefit to us, it’s something we’re not complacent about.”

Away from sailing the team said they liked to kick back and relax.

Morrison said: “I love watching sport and love to mountain bike and kite surf.”

He added that he and Skandia team mate Paul Goodison often went to play golf in Weymouth.

Rhodes said he liked to spend time with his fiancée and their dog Baxter, back in Exmouth.

He said: “I play guitar and go kayaking – my hobbies change very regularly.”