Lisa Dobriskey qualifed for the 1500m final in fourth Pics: Barry Goodwin

by Alex Hoad at the Olympic Stadium

Lisa Dobriskey revealed a pendant bought by her husband and being considered 'a lost cause' inspired her to achieve her goal of reaching the Olympic 1,500m final.

The 28-year-old Ashford AC star, from New Romney, eased through in fourth place in her semi-final on Wednesday night in a time of 4.05.35 and will be joined in the 12-strong field for the final by Team GB’s Laura Weightmann.

Dobriskey admitted she was ‘very happy now’ as it means she can properly focus on her quest to improve on the agony of the fourth place she recorded in Beijing four years ago.

She said: “I'm so proud I've made it to the final.

"I was obviously really nervous because every step of my training has been about the moment of standing on the Olympic Final start line and to not yet be there was very hard to contend with.

"It was difficult because I couldn't let myself dream of my ultimate goal before I was there, so I’m really chuffed to actually be there."

The former Southlands School pupil (pictured after Wednesday's semi-final) endured an injury nightmare in the lead-up to the Games, with specialists telling her to quit running to allow blood clots on her lungs to clear, just weeks before the GB Olympic Trials.

She said: "Did I think then that I would make the final? Not at all. When I sat down, the specialist we went to see looked me in the eye and said ‘you should give up.’

"I thought ‘That’s the worst thing you can possibly say to me because it makes me even more determined.’

"At that moment I really had a turning point and decided, no, I'm definitely not giving up on this and kept dreaming and kept believing so I'm really grateful to be here.”

The 2006 Commonwealth Champion and 2009 World Championship silver-medallist also revealed: "My husband Ricky (Soos, former GB 800m runner) and I watched a film and there was a pendant in it, St Jude, the patron saint of lost causes. He bought me the pendant as I was a lost cause.

"I’ve worn it every single day and it’s paid off."

Asked if she feels she has something left for the final on Friday night, Dobriskey added: "I think so. I was very lucky to have a slow heat.

"I didn’t feel like the heat took a lot out of me whereas a lot of the girls had very quick, competitive heats.

"Two British girls are in the final. It’s brilliant."