Sarah BLANCK was added to the 2008 Australian Olympic Team over the weekend to keep her dream of an Olympic medal alive.
The Laser Radial sailor was not able to be named by the Australian Olympic Committee with the rest of the sailing team on Thursday as an appeal was still pending.
Sarah BLANCK switched to the Laser Radial class in 2005 after being Australia's highest placed sailor in Athens 2004 with a fourth in the Europe class, a class in which she was World Champion in 2002.
In 2007 she has won the Laser Radial division at the Sydney International Regatta, placed second at the Australian Laser Championship and third at Kiel Week. BLANCK is the current Australian Female Sailor of the Year and the Australian Sailing Team co-captain with
Malcolm PAGE.
The Australian Olympic sailing team boasts five current World Champions with officials confident of bringing home at least four medals.
Current Laser World Champion
Tom SLINGSBY was nominated ahead of close rival
Michael BLACKBURN, while
Nathan WILMOT and Malcolm PAGE - also World Champions in their class - will contest the Men's 470.
Darren BUNDOCK and
Glenn ASHBY, current Australian Male Sailors of the Year will contest the Tornado class.
Veteran sailor
Iain MURRAY won his first ever Olympic selection and will contest the men's Star class with teammate
Andrew PALFREY, while 470 women's crew
Elise RECHICHI and
Tessa PARKINSON are also considered a medal prospect.
The rest of the Australian sailing squad includes RS:X sailboarder
Jessica CRISP, Yngling crew
Nicky BETHWAITE,
Karyn GOJNICH and
Angela FARRELL,
Anthony NOSSITER (Finn) and 49ers pair
Nathan OUTTERIDGE and
Ben AUSTIN.