Eley targets Vancouver 2010

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Posted: Friday 13th February 2009 | 16:14

SHORT track speed skater Jon Eley insists he can whip up a storm at next year's Winter Olympics after enjoying his first podium finish of the season last week.

Jon Eley gears up for Vancouver 2010
ELEY DOES IT: Jon Eley looks towards Vancouver after first medal of the season (Getty Images)

The 24-year-old - who is currently ranked fifth in the world - took World Cup silver in the 500m in Bulgaria to announce himself as a serious medal hope for next month's World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Vienna.

Eley was a starry-eyed youngster at the last Olympics in Turin - but still managed to reach the 500m final eventually finishing fifth after being drawn in the outside lane in a race won by Apolo Anton Ohno of America.

And with next week's final World Cup of the season in Dresden followed quickly by March's World Champs, Eley - who became the first British Short Track Speed Skater to win World Cup gold in 2007 - is adamant he is now a force on the circuit and will be one to watch in Canada.

RELATED: Eley secures silver in Sofia

With just a year to go until the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver on Thursday, Eley said: "I want to push for medals at the Olympics and the Worlds will be a good marker of where I am in relation to that.

"You find yourself competing against the same guys all the time and that will be no different at the World Championships next month, so to have medalled gives you confidence.

"I learnt a lot from the last Olympics - I was satisfied with where I finished because it was my debut Games - it gave me room to build on and next year I want to make sure that happens.

"It has been a tough season results-wise but if I am honest this year has all been about concentrating on training with the Winter Olympics on the horizon and bringing about good performances off the back of it."

As well as his individual aims, which Eley claims are now focussed on the 500m and 1,000m he also has lofty ambitions in the relay.

Eley competes alongside fellow Nottingham-based flyers Paul Stanley, Paul Worth, Tom Iveson and Anthony Douglas and the team will be serious medal contenders in Vancouver after a 2008 season that included World Short Track bronze and European silver.

And Eley believes the team will hit their peak by 2010, he added: "I don't think this year has ever been about getting consistently good results.

"We have had some don't get me wrong but I think there has been a greater focus on confidence and fine tuning things so they are exactly right in time for the Olympics.

"We are getting better and better and there has been a definite improvement over the past year. From a personal point of view I believe we are making good progress.

"As a team 2008 was a great year and we picked up some really good wins - the spirit among the camp is good and I would like to think I am always around if someone needs any help or assistance."