Dempsey, 27, who also finished 16th in Sydney, has since won the European title and was third in last year's World Championships.

He also won a regatta in Palma earlier this year but has been working hard to improve his light-wind sailing and is driven by the thought of coming home without a medal.

"I have a lot of good memories from Athens but almost the most powerful memory is coming home from Sydney without a medal," said Dempsey. "That was a really horrible feeling and something I promised I would never do again. It is the thought of coming home without one that is more scary than the thought of trying to win one."

Dempsey will have to get past in-form New Zealander Tom Ashley, 24, the world champion, France's Julian Banton and 39-year-old Athens silver medallist and 1996 Olympic champion Nikolaos Kaklamanakis of Greece.

But Athens gold medallist Gal Fridman of Israel will not be in China as he was beaten to qualification by 21-year-old team-mate Shahar Zubari, who was third in this year's World Championship.

Dempsey is engaged to Yngling helm Sarah Ayton [top right] and the pair have apparently agreed that whoever wins gold in China gets to keep their surname after they are married.

"Nick Dempsey and Bryony Shaw [women's RS:X] have both got very good chances," said Park.

"Their light-wind performances are second to none, and actually their stronger-wind sailing is maybe not as good as it was but that's because they are optimising to a light-wind venue."

The Olympic RS:X event starts on 11 August and ends on 20 August.