Eley bids farewell to short track 'ambassador' Ohno

From James Toney, Sportsbeat, in Vancouver

 IN a sport where the last man standing often claims the spoils, British short track speed skater Jon Eley will wave a cheery farewell to Apolo Anton Ohno.

SO LONG: Jon Eley (l) couldn't quite cut the mustard against the likes of retiring American Apolo Anthon Ohno (r) (Getty Images)

The American has long been a dominant force, claiming his eighth Olympic medal with a relay bronze yesterday.

Eley though will have nothing to take home from his second Olympic appearance - after failing to make the 500m final and improve on his fifth place in Torino in 2006.

The 25-year won his quarter-final, beating Ohno to the line, but got his tactics wrong in the semi-finals and was eliminated.

He returned to the track for a B final, securing sixth place overall, but it was scant consolation after being tipped among Britain's medal contenders in Vancouver.

"It wasn't my day and that's very disappointing," said Eley.

"It was make or break on the last lap, I went for it but it just didn't happen.

"I still believe I can go to Sochi and win a medal. There is a lot more to come and I could still get technically better.

"Apolo has been a great ambassador for the sport and to come away from his career being the most prolific Winter Olympic medallist in the whole of America is incredible, especially for an unpredictable sport like short track.

"But hopefully it leaves the door open for the rest of us."

Eley returned to the track with Great Britain's 5000m relay team, helping them finish sixth, a valuable result with future funding at stake.

"Jon's still got his whole future ahead of him and he will certainly be a key member of our team in the next four years," said performance director Stuart Horsepool.

"If we hadn't have got the results we got here our funding would have been under threat and quite rightly so.

"It's not been a fantastic Olympics but it is encouraging."

  AS IT HAPPENS: Day 15 of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver