Olympic kitesurf champion Ellie Aldridge says “no-one will want to train” at the National Sailing Academy in Dorset if an incinerator is built nearby.
Plans for the energy recovery facility at Portland were agreed by the government in September but the decision is being challenged in the High Court.
Aldridge claims pollution from the plant will blow straight across the bay, where academy sailors train most of the year.
Portland Powerfuel said the plant would result in cleaner air because it would allow visiting ships to use shore power rather than diesel engines.
Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy – the base for the London 2012 Olympic sailing events – has been a training centre for numerous top sailors, including Aldridge.
The £150m incinerator, run by Powerfuel Portland at nearby Portland Port, will burn up to 202,000 tonnes of waste a year and power about 30,000 homes.
But scientists have warned incinerators are a “disaster for the climate” and ministers recently announced rules to limit their development.
Aldridge, who was made an MBE in the King’s New Year’s Honours, said: “I’ve got loads of concerns but the main one for me, being a sportsperson, is the health implications and the air quality.
“Portland is home to so many Olympic medals but, where the incinerator is planned, with the prevailing wind direction, it will blow straight out into the bay where we train most of the year.
“I don’t think I will be able to continue training here.
“No-one will want to be here and train here.”
The incinerator was given the go-ahead by the government after initially being refused by Dorset Council.
Portland Powerfuel director Giles Frampton said: “The Environment Agency has reviewed all environmental permitting impacts. Powerfuel is not aware of any concerns and expects the permit to be issued imminently.
“The Portland Energy Recovery Facility will enable visiting ships to use shore power rather than their diesel engines, which will result in a general improvement in air quality in the area.
“This potential improvement in ambient air quality was recognised by the Secretary of State in her planning decision.”
Last month, Stop Portland Waste Incinerator campaign group was granted a statutory review of the decision at the High Court on the grounds that the Secretary of State’s decision “does not satisfy” Dorset Council’s Waste Plan.
