LYMINGTON dinghy ace Sophie Weguelin has suffered a blow to her Rio 2016 campaign after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis.

Weguelin, 25, developed a blood clot in her leg during the flight home from Brazil last month after competing in the first Olympic test event.

She has now been advised to steer clear of sailing for the next six months – which means missing out on the 470 class world championships next week as well as a large amount of training. Weguelin’s crewmate Eilidh McIntyre, from Hayling Island, will sail alongside two-time Olympian Christina Bassadone as a temporary measure for the worlds in Santander, Spain.

Weguelin will also miss the ISAF Sailing World Cup Grand Final in Abu Dhabi in November and the ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami in January.

“It’s massively frustrating to be missing the World Championships with Eilidh, which we have been hard working towards all season.

“But I have to take the advice of the medical team and not take unnecessary risks which could have serious consequences,” Weguelin said.

“There’s always plenty to be done off the water as well as on it in an Olympic sailing campaign, so Eilidh and I will still be working hard over the winter in all those areas, ready for when I can go on the water again.

“It’s a setback, for sure, but I think setbacks ultimately make you stronger.”

McIntyre added: “It’s disappointing that Sophie and I won’t be able to put into action what we’ve been working on at the Worlds.

“But there will be other World Championships for us to try to win in the future. What’s more important is that Sophie takes the time to recover properly.”