Tauranga sailer Sam Meech will get to show his class on the world stage after being named in the New Zealand Olympic sailing team.

Sam will compete in the Laser men's light-weight dinghy and joins fellow Tauranga Olympian champions Peter Burling and Blair Tuke who were named in March.

Sam Meech in action. Photo: Pedro Martinez/Sailing Energy.

Recent highlights this year for Sam in his bid to secure the Laser selection include a silver medal at Sailing World Cup Hyeres in April, and a bronze medal at Sailing World Cup Miami in January.

Mark Howard is coach to the NZL Sailing Team Laser squad and will support Meech in the final build-up to and during the Olympic Games.

Sam also joins his younger sister Molly who has been named to represent New Zealand at Rio 2016, sailing in the 49erFX women's skiff event with Alexandra Maloney.

The 25-year-old sails for Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club and was named alongside Josh Junior, who will compete in the Finn men's heavy-weight dingy class.

Securing the selection marks an Olympic debut for both Josh and Sam, with Rio 2016 their first appearance at an Olympic Games.

Josh, 26, grew up in Wellington and proudly represents the capital city's Worser Bay Boating Club. He is coached by John Cutler, Olympic bronze medallist in the Finn class at Seoul 1988.

Campaigning in the Laser class during the London 2012 cycle, Junior went on to switch to the Finn class in which he has excelled, producing some career topping performances in 2015 and 2016.

It's not possible for New Zealand to send more than one boat to compete in each Olympic sailing event and selection for the spots to represent New Zealand in both single-handed men's events (Finn and Laser) have been incredibly closely contested, with more than one sailor in both classes performing to a high level on the world stage.

The two selections announced today means that New Zealand will be represented in all five double-handed Olympic events and in both men's single-handed events. No selections have been made in the Laser Radial, Men's RS:X and Women's RS:X events.

Yachting New Zealand selectors have high standards when considering nominations to the New Zealand Olympic Committee and the ultimate goal of the NZL Sailing Team is to win Olympic medals for New Zealand at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 beyond.

New Zealand Olympic sailing crews:

Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie – Women's 470 (women's double-handed dinghy) Peter Burling and Blair Tuke – 49er (men's skiff) Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech – 49erFX (women's skiff) Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox – Men's 470 (men's double-handed dinghy) Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders – Nacra 17 (mixed gender multihull) Josh Junior – Finn (men's heavy-weight dinghy) Sam Meech – Laser (men's light-weight dinghy)