Video: Sir Ben Ainslie receives knighthood After collecting his knighthood, Sir Ben said: "It is obviously a huge honour. It is something to be very proud of. A hard-fought victory at London 2012 made Sir Ben Ainslie the world's most successful Olympic sailor with four golds and a silver medal from successive Games. Now retired from Olympic sailing, Sir Ben, 36, of Lymington, Hampshire, has switched his attention to the formidable task of trying to win the America's Cup.