Ainslie, Ben (1977- )

English sailor, who has won Olympic golds in two different events. Aged only 19, he gained a silver medal in the Laser class at the 1996 Olympic Games in Barcelona and won gold at the Sydney Olympics four years later. Two years later, he switched from the Laser to the Finn class and won the World and European Championships in his first year in the Finn class, also being named the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) World Sailor of the Year. In 2004 he won gold in the Finn class at the Athens Olympics, and also won his third consecutive World title in the event.

In 1999, he won the UK, European, and World Laser titles, and at 22 years old, he became the youngest ever winner of the British Nautical Award Yachtsman of the Year trophy.