TWO local sailors have experienced agony and ecstasy after this week learning their fate for this summer’s Olympics in Rio.

Helensburgh’s Charlotte Dobson has been included in the GB sailing team, but fellow sailor, Rhu’s Luke Patience, has been deselected.

Dobson, 29, and her sailing partner Sophie Ainsworth, will make their Olympic debuts in the 49erFX – a new event for Rio.

And the former Lomond School pupil spoke of her delight at making the team.

She said: “It’s absolutely incredible. It has been a long time coming.

“I have done two cycles as the bridesmaid in a boat on my own, and this time it’s so amazing to be the bride eventually.

“It’s just really cool to have done it with Soph in a team. It almost makes it feel a little bit more special being able to share it with somebody.

“You see how once people are selected they slightly change almost and I think when I woke up this morning it didn’t feel so much of a personal challenge any more.

“It’s a personal ambition to win a gold medal, but it is more of an honour, a lot of people are behind you in the British team and it’s for Queen and country.

“It feels like a lot of responsibility, for all the people that haven’t been selected and people who have been selected in the past, to make them proud.”

As for Patience, he may have to live up to his surname if he plans on making a late attempt to qualify for Rio.

His sailing partner Elliot Willis. is facing his own battle as he receives treatment for bowel cancer.

As a result the Royal Yachting Association has been forced to make the difficult decision to deselect both athletes as they are part of a two-man outfit,

A statement read as follows: “The Royal Yachting Association, has made the difficult decision to deselect the 470 Men’s pairing of Luke Patience and Elliot Willis.

“Due to Elliot’s ongoing treatment for bowel cancer, as a two-person crew, they are unfortunately unable to follow the combined training programme required to maximise their chances of success in Rio.”

But 29 year-old Patience said:s not giving up on his Olympic dream.

He told Advertiser Sport: “Clearly, Elliot’s situation is one neither of us foresaw when we embarked on our campaign together and I’m sad that we won’t be able to compete together in Rio this summer.“The thoughts of all the team continue to be with Elliot in his ongoing recovery. For me, it’s absolutely the right thing to do to see through the work Elliot and I started out together. I’m aiming to re-qualify for Rio with Chris Grube." and do the best job we can to bring home a medal."