Hanson, 25, was selected on the back of a fifth place finish at the recent Laser World Championships in Australia, a competition that saw him miss out on the bronze medal by just two points.

He joins a team that features reigning Olympic champions Giles Scott and Hannah Mills, plus recently-crowned Nacra 17 world champions John Gimson and Anna Burnet.

Hanson is one of six debutants in the 15 strong squad, with women’s 470 crew Eilidh McIntyre, windsurfers Emma Wilson and Tom Squires and Nacra 17 pair Gimson and Burnet also making their first appearances for Britain.

“It’s a huge honour to be chosen for Team GB, and I’m sure it hasn’t quite sunk in yet,” said Hanson.

“I always felt proud to represent the British Sailing Team in its own right, but the Olympics with Team GB is a whole new level. 

"The sense of being part of a greater team with the whole nation behind you is incredibly exciting.”

The Olympic sailing competition is scheduled to begin on the waters of Enoshima on July 26.

“Elliot completes a strong sailing line-up for the Tokyo 2020 team," said Team GB Chef de Mission Mark England.

"The team is full of experience and promising talent and we are very excited to see them compete in Enoshima in July.”

Britain's full Olympic sailing squad is as follows - Giles Scott - Finn (Men’s One Person Dinghy Heavy), Hannah Mills and Eilidh McIntyre - 470 Women (Women’s Two Person Dinghy), Luke Patience and Chris Grube - 470 Men (Men’s Two Person Dinghy), Charlotte Dobson and Saskia Tidey - 49erFX (Women’s Skiff), Dylan Fletcher and Stuart Bithell - 49er (Men’s Skiff), Elliot Hanson - Laser (Men’s One Person Dinghy),  Alison Young - Laser Radial (Women’s One Person Dinghy), Emma Wilson - RS:X Women (Women’s Windsurfer), Tom Squires - RS:X Men (Men’s Windsurfer), John Gimson and Anna Burnet - Nacra 17 (Mixed Multihull)