ASPIRING Olympian Giles Scott underlined his growing potential with an impressive show at last week s Skandia Sail for Gold regatta in Weymouth. The 20-year-old from Huntingdon put together a series of consistent races to secure a third-place finish in th

ASPIRING Olympian Giles Scott underlined his growing potential with an impressive show at last week's Skandia Sail for Gold regatta in Weymouth.

The 20-year-old from Huntingdon put together a series of consistent races to secure a third-place finish in the competitive Finn class.

With Olympic champion Ben Ainslie absent, British number two Ed Wright took the gold while Scott held off a host of top international names to secure his place on the podium.

"I'm really pleased with my performance," he said. "I wanted to get myself in the medal mix and prove that I can be competitive in this company. I've still got lots to improve on but I'm looking forward with confidence now."

Last week, the Royal Yachting Association announced their initial selections for Beijing with Ainslie and Wright expected to battle it out for the one available place in the Finn class.

But Scott is already looking ahead - with the 2012 regatta due to staged at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy.

"The Olympics is what you work your whole career towards," said the hopeful, who began sailing at Grafham Water when he was six.

"It means everything to compete at the Olympics but to do it in your own country - that's a chance of a lifetime I can't miss.

"It was always my dream goal to go to the Olympics in 2012. But since the bid was announced and London won it, it's come to the front of my mind."

Ainslie, a two-time gold Olympic medallist, remains Scott's inspiration - although he admits he'll have to one day beat him to achieve his goal.

"When I was just beginning to dream of going to the Olympics, Ben was already a silver and gold medallist," added Scott.

"He is pretty inspirational and it is really good to get a close hand view of what he can do.

"I have only been in the fleet since last October and he has been away so I haven't done a lot of training with him.

"I know he is setting the standard that I have to aspire towards.