Mick Fanning gets through to final in Bells Beach world surfing event Three-time surfing world champion Mick Fanning is on the verge of a fairytale finish to his career after advancing to the final of the Bells Beach Classic.Fanning beat American Patrick Gudauskas in this morning's semi finals on Victoria's surf coast.Earlier, he beat good friend Owen Wright in the quarter finals in perfect conditions.Fanning has won 22 world tour events, including four at Bells, but has decided to call it quits after this event, saying the hunger to compete is no longer there. External Link: Cameron Best Instagram photo: Mick Fanning about to be mobbed by fans after making the final in his last professional @wsl event. "I just want to go out there and put on a good performance."Fanning rose to world surfing prominence after winning his first Bells title as a teenage wildcard entry in 2001.He went on to win the title again in 2012, 2014 and 2015.He brought a new level of competitiveness to the sport and quickly became known as "White Lightning" for the way he attacked the wave.But he took some time off following his infamous encounter with a shark in South Africa in 2015 and the death of his brother later that year.He has been made an officer of the Order of Australia for his work in and out of the surf.Fellow Australian Stephanie Gilmore will meet Hawaii's Tatiana Weston-Webb in the women's final.Gilmore has won six world titles and is hoping to win her fourth Bells Beach tournament today.