Double Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson is due to give birth in July to twins. The news came this morning when Shirley also announced her Yngling crew for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Annie Lush and Lucy Macgregor.

Annie Lush, 26, from Poole in Dorset is currently ISAF Woman’s Match World Champion. She started sailing as a child but became heavily involved in rowing with Cambridge University, receiving a Woman’s Blue in 2001 for winning the Woman’s Boat Race.

Lucy Macgregor, 19, also from Poole learnt to sail through the RYA youth squad, competing in Mirrors, 420s and 470s internationally. Shirley comments: ‘Annie and I embarked on our own ‘X Factor’ competition to find our bow girl. Despite her age, Lucy was the immediate and obvious choice. She has a huge amount of natural talent and a completely unflappable nature.

Photo: onEdition