Elliot Carney is setting his sights on winning Olympic gold at Rio in 2016.

The 23-year-old Hythe windsurfer (pictured), who gave up a building apprenticeship last year when the sport was re-instated in November after the International Sailing Federation reversed their decision to replace it with kiteboarding.

Carney, who had a hernia operation before Christmas, finished 18th in the recent RS:X world championships in Brazil and spent a few days at home last week, before flying to New Zealand at the weekend for a six-week training stint with Dutchman Dorian Van Rijsselberge, Olympic champion in London 2012 at Weymouth.

He said: "I want to be British No. 1 going to Rio and the focus in the next few years is all on winning gold in Rio."

Reflecting on the worlds, Carney said: "It wasn’t a great week. I didn’t race well and made it hard for myself with poor decision-making. I wasn’t clever enough at times.

"I was hoping for more top-10 places. Finishing in the top-20 was great but I went hoping for better. I won the last race which was a relief. I had plenty of pace and led all the way which always makes life easier."