Bradbury tips Britain's Eley for 500m medal

From James Toney, Sportsbeat, in Vancouver

 JON Eley is right in contention to win an Olympic short track speed skating medal, according to the man who fluked his way to one of the most famous Winter Games golds of all-time.

TIPPED FOR SUCCESS: Steven Bradbury, the surprise winner of short track gold in 2002, believes Britain's Jon Eley is in with a shout of 500m success in Vancouver (Getty Images)

Australian Steven Bradbury was crowned 1000m champion in Salt Lake City - after a succession of rivals fell over during his progress through the heats and final - and later wrote a best-selling book titled Last Man Standing.

Bradbury is proof positive that anything is possible in the most unpredictable sport at the Games but he claims Eley's pedigree means any success will be down to more than just luck.

"Jon's got a good chance," he said. "He was a finalist last time around and he's been posting some good results on the World Cup circuit. He's fast and he's also experienced.

"You wouldn't say he was a favourite but he's got to be considered among the contenders, if he comes into form at the right time."

Canada's Francois-Louis Tremblay and Charles Hamelin will both be among the contenders, while Korea will look to continue their dominance with a strong slate of skaters.

American Apolo Anton Ohno will be looking for his eighth Olympic medal while Italy's Yuri Confortola and France's Thibaut Fauconnet are both in the mix.

Eley - who needs to progress through a heat on Wednesday to book his place in this weekend's later rounds - claims he has made big improvements since Turin and recorded a personal best in last week's 1000m heats to underline his form.

But for an untimely spill he would be arriving in Vancouver as the European champion.

"I'm a lot stronger than I was in 2006," he said.

"My actual top speed is probably better, but the strength is there to hold that top speed longer. 

"I think it's going to take a lot, but it's nothing I can't do. I've done it before at World Cups and World Championships. 

"My rivals are all skating well at the moment, so it's about what happens on that day, but I'm quietly confident."

British team performance director Stuart Horsepool is also optimistic that Eley can deliver.

"He seems to be reaching his peak at the right time," he said.

"I thought during the European Championships that he wasn't sharp enough but the event got rid of a lot of nervous tension for him.

"He's got a real good chance, he's proven to be one of the top 500m skaters in the world.

"He won't need to rely on a Steven Bradbury type incident to win."

 

AS IT HAPPENS: Follow day 12 of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver