Steven Bradbury facts for kids
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 14 October 1973 Camden, New South Wales, Australia |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 176 lb (80 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  Australia |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Short track speed skating | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Medal record
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Steven John Bradbury is a famous Australian short-track speed skater. He was born on October 14, 1973. Steven is known for winning a gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics. This made him the first athlete from Australia and the Southern Hemisphere to win a Winter Olympic gold.
He was also part of the team that won Australia's first Winter Olympic medal ever. This was a bronze medal in the short-track relay at the 1994 Winter Olympics. Steven's gold medal win was very special. He was an underdog, meaning not many people expected him to win. He came from last place in the final race when all the other skaters crashed. His story shows how important it is to never give up.
Contents
Early Skating Career
World Championships and First Olympics
In 1991, Steven Bradbury was part of the Australian team that won the 5,000-meter relay at the World Championships in Sydney. This was a big moment for Australia, as it was their first world championship in a winter sport.
The Australian short-track relay team went to the 1992 Winter Olympics as world champions. However, they had a crash in the semi-finals and did not make it to the final race. Steven was a reserve for the team and did not get to race in any individual events.
Winning Australia's First Winter Olympic Medal
At the 1994 Winter Olympics in Norway, Steven Bradbury and his short-track relay team made history. They won Australia's first-ever Winter Olympic medal, which was a bronze. They made it to the final race by just beating Japan and New Zealand in their semi-final.
Their plan for the final was to stay on their feet and avoid crashing. During the race, the Canadian team fell, which helped Australia. Steven, along with Richard Nizielski, Andrew Murtha, and Kieran Hansen, became Australia's first Winter Olympics medalists.
Tough Individual Races and a Serious Injury
Steven also competed in individual races at the 1994 Olympics. In the 500-meter event, he was knocked over by another skater in the semi-final and was eliminated. In the 1,000-meter event, he fell in his heat after being pushed by a competitor.
Later in 1994, Steven had a very serious accident during a World Cup event. Another skater's blade cut his right thigh deeply. This caused him to lose a lot of blood. He needed many stitches and could not move his leg for three weeks. It took him 18 months to fully recover.
Overcoming Challenges
The 1998 Winter Olympics
Steven Bradbury, Richard Nizielski, and Kieran Hansen returned for the 1998 Winter Olympics in Japan. They hoped to win another medal in the relay. However, they finished third in their qualifying race and missed the final. They ended up last out of eight teams overall.
In his individual races, Steven was again involved in collisions with other skaters. He did not advance past the heats in either the 500-meter or 1,000-meter events.
A Broken Neck and a Comeback
In September 2000, Steven had another very serious training accident. He fell headfirst into the barriers and broke bones in his neck. Doctors told him he might not be able to skate again. He had to wear a special brace for a month and a half.
Despite this, Steven was determined to compete in another Olympics. He wanted to make up for his past crashes. He knew he might not be the fastest anymore, but he wanted to try.
The 2002 Winter Olympics Gold
An Unlikely Path to the Final
Steven Bradbury won an amazing gold medal in the men's 1,000-meter event at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. He won his first race easily. In the quarter-finals, he was in a tough race with two top skaters. Steven finished third and thought he was out. But one of the other skaters was disqualified, allowing Steven to move on to the semi-finals.
Steven and his coach decided on a new strategy for the rest of the races. He would stay behind his opponents and hope they crashed. He knew he wasn't as fast as the others. He figured if two or more skaters fell, the remaining ones would get medals. This way, he avoided crashes himself.
The Famous Gold Medal Win
In his semi-final race, Steven was in last place. But three of the top skaters crashed, clearing the way for Steven to finish first and reach the final.
In the final race, Steven was again far behind the other four skaters. Then, something incredible happened. All four of his competitors crashed into each other on the very last corner while fighting for the gold medal. Steven, who was about 15 meters behind, simply skated past the pile-up to win the gold medal! He became the first person from a country in the Southern Hemisphere to win a Winter Olympic event.
Steven's Thoughts on His Win
After winning, Steven said that he didn't win the medal just for the minute and a half of that race. He won it for the "last decade of the hard slog" he had put in. He explained that he was the oldest skater and knew he wouldn't have enough energy for four fast races. So, he decided to stay out of the way and hope for crashes.
He later said he never expected all of them to fall. But he felt the other skaters were under a lot of pressure and might take too many risks.
Steven also competed in other events at the 2002 Olympics. In the relay, his team did not make the final. He also raced in the 1,500-meter and 500-meter individual events but did not win any more medals.
Steven's Legacy
Steven's unexpected win made him a hero. Many people saw him as an example of an underdog who never gave up. His unique victory was news all over the world.
In Australia, his feat led to the phrase "doing a Bradbury." This means having an unexpected or unusual success. This phrase was even added to the Australian National Dictionary in 2016. Australia Post also released a special stamp of Steven to celebrate his victory.
Life After Skating
Retirement and Other Activities
Steven Bradbury retired from speed skating after the 2002 Olympics. He has worked as a commentator for Winter Olympics events. In 2005, he was a contestant on the Australian TV show Dancing with the Stars. In 2019, he also competed in Australian Survivor.
In March 2022, Steven showed his bravery again. He rescued four teenage girls from drowning while surfing with his son. For this act, he received a special award called a Commendation for Brave Conduct.
Motor Racing
After his skating career, Steven also became involved in motor racing. He competed in different car races, including the Australian Grand Prix Celebrity Race and state-level championships. He also made appearances in other racing series.
Awards and Recognition
Steven Bradbury has received many honors for his achievements. In 2002, he was given the key to the City of Brisbane. In 2007, he received a Medal of the Order of Australia and was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
In 2009, he was inducted into the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame. In 2023, he was again recognized for his bravery in rescuing the four girls, receiving the Commendation for Brave Conduct.
See also
In Spanish: Steven Bradbury para niños
