“Smashed by Two-Meter Plus Waves”: Olympic Gold Medalist Unveils a Riveting Tale of Survival at Sea

Surfing is a leisure activity. But since it involves a natural and ever-changing playground, it is also a dangerous activity, especially for young kids. Last year in Australia, a surfing accident involving four kids was averted thanks to an Olympic gold medalist. Steven Bradbury is a national hero on the ice rink, who was also involved in saving four girls from drowning last year. Bradbury has also registered his name in the history books by becoming the first-ever Australian to win a gold medal in the Winter Olympics.

During the 2002 Winter Olympics, Steven Bradbury won Australia’s first Winter Olympics gold medal for 1000m short track speed skating. Now, more than two decades later, the speed skater has earned another kind of accolade – a bravery award.

Steven Bradbury averts major surfing accident

Last year in March, Bradbury was teaching his son Flyn to surf at Happy Valley, Caloundra. But little did Bradbury know that his surfing skills would soon be put to the test in a life-and-death situation. As Bradbury was helping his son to learn to surf, he noticed that a girl was drowning in the sea. Without wasting time, the Olympian grabbed Flyn’s surfboard and told his son to come back with lifeguards, as he rushed to rescue the girl. According to a Fox Sports report, Bradbury claimed, “Once I got out there, I realised there were three more heads a bit further out that were right in the impact zone, getting smashed by two-metre plus waves.”

The Olympian rescued the girl and dropped her safely on the shore before returning for the remaining three kids. Upon returning, Bradbury noticed that one of the girls had started hyperventilating. It was at that moment, the Olympic champion decided to take all the remaining swimmers on the surfboard, all at once.

Luckily, the lifeguards arrived and helped carry the other two girls to safety. Looking back at the whole event, Bradbury said, “It was kind of nice to know that under extreme circumstances, that I could still go back into what I call Olympic mode, even though I’m not as fit and a little older than I used to be.” Bradbury’s act of courage was well praised by everyone, but this wasn’t the first time Steven Bradbury has etched his name in people’s hearts.

Steven Bradbury’s Winter Olympics triumph

Bradbury was no stranger to the grand stage. He has participated in four Olympic Winter Games – Albertville 1992, Lillehammer 1994, Nagano 1998, and Salt Lake City 2002. Before the 2002 Games, his highest place in all the Olympics was 8th. That all changed in 2002, as he won the men’s 1000m short-track speed skating event. A triumph that took 14 years of hard work to achieve. Not to mention the pain of 100 stitches and two broken vertebrae that Bradbury had to endure in his bid to become Australia’s first-ever Winter Olympics gold medalist.

Read more: Despite Heroic Act of Local Surfer After Spotting 2 Brothers Drowning, Horrifying Fate Rocks Surfing Community

As for his selfless and daring efforts last year, Bradbury was bestowed a commendation for brave conduct by the esteemed Australian Governor General David Hurley. His act of bravery highlighted that be it the Olympic rink or the mighty waves of the sea, Steven Bradbury always triumphs like a true champion.

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