WASHINGTON - Georgetown University alum Charlie Buckingham (C'11) was one of 18 athletes to be named to the 2017 US Sailing Team, as announced on Monday. Buckingham is one of seven athletes who competed at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games, where he finished 11th overall in men's laser sailing.

The national team is selected annually and is comprised of the top sailors competing in the events selected for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The roster is assembled from a combination of sailors who qualified based on results at World Cup Series Miami 2017, and additional accomplished athletes who receive discretionary selection from the Chief of U.S. Olympic Sailing, two-time Olympic Champion Malcolm Page.

"Being named to your national team in any sport is a distinct honor, but it is also important to realize that these athletes have embraced a long-term commitment to excellence," Page said following the announcement. "In addition to displaying some fine racing results over the past year, each of these sailors have committed to a comprehensive training and competition plan for 2017. We want our roster to feature athletes who are internationally competitive, progressing in their training plans, and committed to reaching the top of the podium."

Buckingham is the lone representative in the men's laser, a singlehanded, one-person dinghy event.

In Rio, Buckingham had an impressive final three races, finishing among the top 10 in all three, but his late surge was not enough as he finished 11th overall, falling just shy of the medal race. Tallying 108 points through a 10-race preliminary round, the two-time College Sailor of the Year and Laser North American Champion was in a tie for 10th in points, but was unfortunately on the wrong side of the tiebreaker scoring system.