SOUTHAMPTON snowboarder Billy Morgan will carry the British flag at the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics today.

It comes after the 28-year-old won snowboard big air bronze to claim a record fifth British medal of the games.

The Shirley Olympian squeezed into the final and was the second of 12 qualifiers to take to the ramp, but as his rivals failed to land their efforts, his podium chances improved.

He scored 168.00 for his two best jumps - 82.50 and 85.50 - after not scoring with the first, and Morgan was third with only Canada's Max Parrot able to overtake him.

WATCH - Family, friends and fans celeberate Billy Morgan's bronze

Parrot fell, so Morgan took third place behind gold medallist Sebastien Toutant of Canada and Kyle Mack of the United States, who claimed silver.

There were scenes of disbelief and jubilation among the British ranks as the realisation hit Morgan that he was now an Olympic medallist.

Family and friends has also gathered at the The View Bar at Southampton Sports Centre to watch Billy's historic jump.

Daily Echo:

Picture by Daily Echo Camera Club member Louise Godwin

The 28-year-old Southampton snowboarder joins skeleton sliders Lizzy Yarnold (gold), who now lives in Shedfield, Hampshire, Laura Deas and Dom Parsons (both bronze) and ski slopestyler Izzy Atkin (bronze) as a British medallist from the 23rd Winter Games.

The podium place means Britain have surpassed their previous best haul of four medals, from the Chamonix 1924 and Sochi 2014 Games.

Southampton's View Bar was open at midnight for supporters, including  Billy's dad  Eddie, to cheer on the city's newest sporting hero.

"I didn't think I could win a medal," conceded Morgan. "I had Torgeir (Bergrem) and Max to come and they're rad riders, they never fall over - and they did."

Click here  for more reaction from Billy.