SPEED SKATING: Australian long track speed skater, Daniel Greig, has produced a break through result at the ISU World Sprint Championships in Nagano Japan, by taking the silver medal in the 500 metre event.

Greig finished 0.36 seconds behind one of his best mates and training partners, Michel Mulder from the Netherlands. Mirko Giacomo Nenzi from Italy was third, a further 0.08 seconds back.

It is the first major race of the year and the last big event before the Sochi 2014 Games, where Greig will make his Olympic debut as Australia's only long track skater.

Greig’s coach, Desly Hill, was delighted with the performance of her 22-year-old charge, who will compete in both the 500m and 1000m races in Sochi.

“Breakthroughs like these are an accumulation of everyone's hard work, and Daniel has worked incredibly hard so we are delighted for him,” Hill said.

Greig will now compete in the 1000 metre race tomorrow.

“He is smiling today and ready to try again tomorrow in the 1000 metres,” Hill said.

Greig's selection to the 2014 Australian Olympic Team was formalised just over a week ago, and the Victorian skater spoke about being young in the sport and relatively unknown.

After today's podium finish, Greig will no longer be unknown and will head to Sochi with a world class medal in his pocket and the confidence to prove his mettle on the biggest stage there is.