Already in Australia, they speak of "doing a Bradbury." Steve Bradbury is the Aussie who took gold in the 1000 shorttrack Olympic final. And "doing a Bradbury" is firmly entrenched in the Aussie vernacular as meaning to come from behind – against all odds – to win the impossible race. As the first Australian ever to win a winter gold, Bradbury is also entrenched in the Olympic history books. But who would have thought it would occur under such extraordinary circumstances.

Bradbury was expecting a medal, just not for him. Bradbury and business partner, Clint Jensen (me), run RBC Sport which produces custom made boots for the world's top skaters like Apolo Ohno. RBC (Revolutionary Boot Co.) sponsored Ohno on AR1 boots for his Olympic campaign. Bradbury fully expected that Ohno would be the first to cross the line on a pair of RBC boots. But the golden day was Bradbury's. And Salt Lake City 2002 was the golden reward for Steve Bradbury that every aspiring athlete dreams about.

The Long Road

Born October 14, 1973 to Australian speedskating parents Rhonda and John Bradbury (former Australian speedskating champion), Steve had his first skating experience on a Sydney ice rink at 3. As soon as his feet hit the ice "he was like a little rocket not caring about falling over" said Mom. He attended regular training sessions with his mother and father. His younger brother Warren proved to be large influence on becoming a better skater. Even at an early age Steve's competitive streak was there.

In 1986 at 13, Steve made the national team as part of Australia's first junior squad. The team toured Canada giving Steve an inner energy. If he hadn't been so wrapped up in speed skating, we may have lost him to skate boarding where his talent was reflected on the pages of boarding magazines.

Bumpy Road

"When Steve was 13 we were at home and Mum and Dad were next door. Steve picked up his skateboard and told me to watch him jump off the carport and land on his board. I said he was crazy but I didn't want to miss it. He climbed to the top then in one fast action held the skateboard in front of him and dropped from the edge of the carport. My eyes widened as he fell towards the ground in control with a look of determination. The skateboard hit the ground, instantly shooting forward. Steve went the other way and fell on his back. I laughed no end, as Steve got up holding a badly bruised arm with a big smile. Steve looked at me and said perhaps I should have practiced on something lower first." Warren will never forget it.

Faster and Faster

By 15 Steve held nearly every national record in his divisions. Then disaster. While training, he was riding down a hill and misjudged his speed hitting a wall at the base head on. Not wearing a helmet he suffered a fractured skull, broken collarbone and was in a coma for 3 days. Steve returned at 16 and made the national team for the '91 World Championships in Sydney. He skated on the gold-medal 5000-relay team. This was Australia's first World Championship relay gold.

In '93 he placed 8th overall at the World Championships in China. '94 saw Steve and the 5000 relay team win Australia's first Winter Olympic medal. Steve finished 8th in the 500. Expected to medal in other distances, short track as usual, was unpredictable. Steve was taken out in his favorite, the 1000. Nevertheless he left those games with a bronze medal and the determination to medal individually in '98, in Nagano.

Tragedy

'94 was a rollercoaster. After winning bronze, the World Cup in Montreal, Canada was his lowest point. Steve was involved in a crash that nearly took his life. A blade penetrated his right thigh puncturing right though the leg. The blade missed the femur but severed the femoral vein and cut his quad muscles in half. Before he hit the barrier padding he was already losing blood with his heart pumping over 180 bpm. Steve lost 3.8 litres of his 6 litres of blood on the ice. Miracles saved his life:

• The Canadian team doctor jumped the wall and put his hand "inside" Steve's leg, pinching the vein to stem the bleeding.
• The ambulance was at the end where he crashed and were ready with plasma.
• Montreal's hospital was minutes away.
• As Steve entered the hospital the doctors were preparing for an operation. They took Steve directly leaving the other patient until Steve was stable.
• After surgery, doctors stopped the bleeding and left his wound open for 3 days for Canada's best muscle surgeon to operate.
• 2 weeks later Steve limped out of the hospital with 111 stitches and the determination to get back onto the ice.

Any regular person would have quit. He returned to the team less than a year later. In '96 Steve placed in the top 10 overall.

New Problems

'97 was a challenge with equipment. He was relentless on boots, literally breaking them in half. Clint Jensen had experience in the manufacturing of orthotics and witnessed the manufacturing of boots many times. Steve tried the first pair of Clint's boots that resembled more of a brick than a boot. Steve tested and worked with Clint to make boots, improving every pair but they were not ready for the Olympics, yet.

To top off broken boots, Nagano was his most unsatisfactory performance in many years. The Aussie relay team was in the top 8 for the 3rd Olympics in a row. Clint didn't make the team so focused on making boots. In '98 Steve and Clint formed RBC.

Steve kept training from '98-'02 but this was filled with ups and downs. Starting to age, he could not train as hard, became sick more often. He contracted glandular fever, which put training on hold for nearly 2 months. Discouraged but not defeated, Steve turned his hand to helping Clint.

Making Lemonade from Lemons

RBC spent years developing a buckle that strengthens a weak boot to make it feel like a new boot again - the Steven Bradbury Ankle Booster. They discovered that this external device offers support to the ankle so well on all types of boots - figure to inline - that they patented the invention. Clint: "The Ankle Booster took us by surprise. We just didn't expect it work so well. It literally brings boots back to life. We just wanted to invent something that would make skating more accessible and affordable. We're very proud of our invention."

In early 2000 Steve returned from the World Championships in England, finishing 22nd. This was not what he wanted for his Salt Lake finale. Steve rested several months, returned to training in June 2000 and felt refreshed. He trained full time to make his final Olympic run.

Incredible Tragedy

In September Steve was skating a recovery session, when a freak accident made the 27-year-old rethink his last Olympic quest. A skater fell in front of him at a slow speed and as Steve tried to step over the skater his boot caught and he hit the barrier head-first fracturing his neck. At the hospital he was told that his T3 vertebrae was fractured and the disc was partially damaged. The doctor told Steve that his career was over. But he didn't give up. He found a doctor that helped him recover. He opted for a device called a "halo" that was screwed to his skull and strapped to his body, making him look like a modern day Frankenstein. But it meant 1 month to recover. Steve was warned that if he hit the barrier again he would not walk away a second time.

He skated the 3 World Cups, skipped the World Championships to train which proved to be the wrong move. He got sick, his training was erratic and began to lose focus. Steve had a rest mid-season 2001 trying to find why he was not on track. At the Olympic qualifier, he found his form gaining individual spots for the Australian team for the Olympics. Returning home his speed dropped off and his endurance suffered. One week before the Olympic team trials Steve felt that he might not even make the team. But he ranked #1 winning 2 of the 3 distances. He was still not on form, but now knew he just had to finish what he had started over a decade before.

Miracle Comeback

Steve entered the Olympics with all the past memories driving him to give the performance of his life.
And he did.
Olympic gold after nearly 2 decades and more set backs than any mortal should face.

Some say he is lucky. But I say, he's deserving, "Steve gave his heart, youth and almost his life for his golden dream to come true. Sure, it wouldn't have happened if he hadn't had been the last man standing. But winning gold took a lot more than just luck. I believe we make our own luck. And Steve made his. He's also been a huge inspiration to everyone who stares defeat in the face and wonders whether they can go on."

RBC boots and accessories including the Steven Bradbury Ankle Booster can be found at www.rbcsport.com

Photos © 2002, Clint Jensen, RBC, Australia