Look East

Saskia, who who paired up three ago with her sailing partner Christina Bassadone, is competing for the GB squad in the 470 double-handed class.

The 28-year-old has devoted her life to sailing. It is all she has wanted to do since she was an eight-year-old and winning a place to compete in Beijing fulfilled an ambition brought firmly into focus by the sailing events in Athens for the 2004 games.

The Essex Sports Personality of the Year in 2007 learned her sailing skills off Mersea Island near her home in Essex and says winning the gold medal in Beijing is her biggest goal.

"It's an exciting time - I'm doing what I've wanted to do when I was eight years old.

"It's hard work but it's enjoyable work," she told BBC Look East reporter Andrew Cropper when she managed to squeeze a rare visit to her old sailing club into her demanding schedule.