MATTHEW Langridge, from Northwich, has been selected for his fourth Olympic Games.

He was one of 43 rowers announced by the British Olympic Association on Thursday that will represent Team GB in Rio later this summer.

The 33-year-old, who at London 2012 claimed a bronze medal as part of the men’s eight after winning silver in the same boat class at Beijing four years earlier, is part of a 12-strong sweep squad.

That group will form the eight and pair, plus two reserves, in Brazil.

Sir David Tanner, British Rowing’s performance director, said results at next week’s World Cup regatta will help determine the exact line-ups in South America.

He added: “We think that’s a pretty strong squad.

“We have been thrown a few curveballs the past few weeks, and had to row substitutes [at the World Cup in Lucerne].

“It’s been challenging, but the test of a good team is how it responds.

“We’re always ambitious, and winning gold is a priority when we pick any crew.

“I don’t think it’s disrespectful to say gold is worth several others.”

Langridge, second at last year’s world championships in the men’s pair with James Foad, has switched to the eight this season.

They were third at the European Championships in Germany, but missed out on a medal at the most recent World Cup regatta in Switzerland.

However the crew will be boosted by the return of Pete Reed, a two-time Olympic champion, in Poland next weekend.

Langridge, who made his Olympic debut in Athens in 2004, is one of three men in the squad – along with Andrew T Hodge and Alan Campbell – preparing to contest a fourth Games.

However Mark England, Team GB’s chef de mission, left the former Northwich Rowing Club member off that list at the start of a press conference at the River and Rowing Museum in Henley-on-Thames.

It prompted Langridge, sat to the side of the stage with the rest of the team, to raise his hand to point out the mistake.

Tanner said the team were targeting six medals, three below the nine they won at London 2012.

They had collected half-a-dozen in China.

“That was enough to top the medal table in 2008, so seems a reasonable aim,” he added.

The 2016 Olympic Games get under way on August 5.