LONDON :Ben Ainslie's Athena Racing named former British sailor and coach Ian Walker as CEO of their America's Cup challenge on Monday as they prepare their bid for another tilt at New Zealand.

Walker is a two-time Olympic medallist who, as well as skippering a British America's Cup crew in 2003, has led three Ocean Race campaigns and was also performance director for Britain's successful sailing team at Tokyo 2020.

"It's an exciting moment to return to the America's Cup with a British challenge that has the continuity of the last three campaigns, alongside the recent creation of the America's Cup Partnership (ACP)," Walker said in a statement.

Ainslie's team became the first British entry in 60 years to qualify for the America's Cup Match last year, but were defeated by the defenders N

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