The Story of the Most Surprising Gold Medal: Steven Bradbury | Olympics on the Record

At the Salt Lake City Olympic Games in 2002, the world saw one of the most surprising gold medals in Olympic history when Australian short track speed skater Steven Bradbury defied the odds in his unlikely gold-medal winning race and became "The last man standing".

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[georgegl]

To finish first, you have to finish, first.

[trevorpom]

Ever since this happened, in Australia if you make a massive comeback and win from behind it's known as "doing a Bradbury". He's a legend here.

[Rachy]

This is honestly the most Australian thing to have ever happened

[tetrisgoat]

I can't believe I am sitting here feeling patriotic for Australia, having never even been outside of Sweden.

[adamndirtyape]

Sometimes success means just showing up. Avoiding collisions is part of the sport, so this is a fair win.

[emailjwr]

The rules were set, the race began, and he finished first. I see nothing to be ashamed of here.

[goodshipkaraboudjan]

A lot of people don't seem to know but going into this race he already had an Olympic Bronze and a World Championship to his name. He wasn't some casual skater he was one of the best in the world.

[DogOfHades]

In the Art of War, Sun Tzu said:



Crikey

[aaroncook]

1:40 “He inspired a generation of Australians, well, four to be precise”

So yeah, a generation of Australians

[pjotr]

I was exactly 11 years old, I, as much as everybody in Germany, saw this live after what happened in the semifinals. My entire family was there watching. How we all ended up screaming, laughing, celebrating is still beyond me bc it was way more intense than any footballing victory we've ever witnessed. And that means something for a german family.



This is my favourite olympic moment of all time.

[SuperJohn]

At worst he's the fifth best skater in the world, at his best he's a gold medal winner, difference is he didn't have millions of dollars backing him and a world class program like the other 4.

[AJWRAJWR]

This is a classic Australian sporting moment and just such a great story. Us Aussies still have a chuckle whenever this pops up in conversion. To have 'done a Bradbury' is now a saying we have. Also, if you read his lips as he crosses the line he says 'Oh my f***ing god!'.

[Jay-kuur]

Even being American and wanting Ohno to win... I couldn't help but think Bradbury outsmarted all of them. He knew they were all aggressive skaters and it was unlikely he could beat them physically, so he played a tactical race, letting them destroy each other at the line.

[Ghost-qlhl]

And thus the expression.

"doing a Bradbury"

was born

[BarEscm]

"Never interrupt your enemies when they are making a mistake" - Napoelon

[Introverder]

Last man standing - he fully deserved his medal.

[e-cobaltblue]

A Japanese proverb says that "運も実力のうち".
This means "Luck is also a part of your skills".
He was worthy of winning a gold medal. That is all.

[jdh]

Whenever he speaks about his career and this moment he has always remained so humble, and at times I think he feels he didn't deserve the gold. But he had a strategy, stuck to the plan and it paid off. He's a loved figure in Australia because of the way he approached his career and never gave up. Not to mention a winter Olympic pioneer in our country.

[jchen]

In speed skating, keeping your balance and distance and making good calls are just as important as skating fast. He did all of that and the game was ruled as his victory. If all your opponents mess up, that just means you're better than them. He deserved that gold.

[cornelias]

Funny how now in Australia when similar things happen, we call it a Bradbury.. forever immortalised ... Champion..Bloody Legend...