Whelbourne books Sochi final spot

British skater Jack Whelbourne will fight it out in the final of the Winter Olympics 1500 metres short track event later on Monday after a remarkable performance in Sochi.

The 22-year-old from Nottingham was quickest in the heats with a time of two minutes 14.091 seconds, having been first on the ice at the Iceberg Skating Arena, and then followed it up with another impressive showing in the semi-finals to go through to the showpiece as second fastest.

Whelbourne first took to the ice in the heats alongside Holland's Sjinkie Knegt - who was disqualified at the European Championships in Dresden last month for an obscene gesture aimed at Russia's Victor An after losing the men's 5000m relay - in a six-man contest.

Whelbourne made his move late in the race and held on against Italy's Yuri Confortola and Knegt, with the trio progressing to the nest stage.

The Briton appeared again in the third of three semis, in which only the first two qualified, and battled through to the final in dramatic fashion.

Whelbourne was placed in the inside lane and initially led from the front, and although he was soon overtaken, he fought back into second place.

In front of an increasingly excited crowd inside a packed arena, Whelbourne did enough to stay behind Charles Hamelin and give himself a medal chance later on Monday.