Double Olympic champion Shirley Robertson's hopes of winning a third consecutive gold medal in Beijing next year appear to be over after she was left out of the British sailing team announced this week.

Ben Ainslie, who also won sailing golds in Sydney and Athens, has also been left out of the first wave of selections after it was confirmed last week he would skipper Team Origin, Britain's challenger in the 2009 America's Cup.

Ainslie could still be on the team but selectors want assurances that he can fulfil both commitments.

Robertson's place in the Yngling boat has gone to Sarah Ayton who will join Robertson's fellow Athens crew-mates Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson.

"I felt the team got cut off in its prime," the 39-year-old Robertson said. "We had a lot more to give and we didn't get the respect we had earned."

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