Mylor’s Olympic hero Ben Ainslie has been shortlisted for a prestigious world award.

The record-breaker, who became the greatest Olympian in the history of Sailing after winning his fourth gold this summer, learned to sail at Restronguet Creek in his youth.

Now he joins fellow gold medallist Helena Lucas and Youth World and European Champion RS:X windsurfer Saskia Sills to vie for the International Sailing Federation World Sailor of the Year.

Launched in 1994, the awards are recognised as the pinnacle a sailor can achieve in recognition of his or her outstanding achievements by the world of sailing.

They are presented every November to one male and one female sailor, with Ainslie having made history in 2008 by winning the award for a record third time.

In addition to having won an unprecedented sixth Finn World Championship title on his home waters of Falmouth in May, the 35-year-old Ainslie this summer surpassed Dane Paul Elvstrom to become the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, clinching a hard-fought fourth consecutive gold to add to his silver from the Atlanta 1996 Games.

A total of five male and four female sailors have been shortlisted for the World Sailor of the Year award, from which one male and one female winner will be decided.

Ainslie’s fellow male nominees are Australia’s Olympic and World Champions in the 470, Laser and 49er classes – Mat Belcher-Malcolm Page, Tom Slingsby and Nathan Outteridge-Iain Jensen – and France’s record-breaking around the world sailor Loick Peyron.

The winners will be announced at the awards presentation and dinner, which will take place on the evening of November 6 at the Mansion House in Dublin.