Bundaberg can't get enough Bradbury!
Published on 30 March, 2010
It's been 8 years since Steven Bradbury won Olympic gold in the 1000m Short Course Speed Skating final at Salt Lake City, but he'll always be known as the guy who kept to the rear in the Olympic final - on the last corner his competitors collided and he skated through the pile-up to take out the gold.
"Have you ever heard the saying, ‘Doing a Bradbury'? Well you can use it," Steve said.
‘Doing a Bradbury' has actually made it into a slang dictionary and means winning something almost in spite of yourself.
Those CQUniversity staff who were lucky enough to attend a Business Success Seminar at the Bundaberg campus recently, know that Steve Bradbury is more than just a fluky overnight success.
The Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) made a clever choice in selecting Bradbury to be a speaker and Professor Phillip Clift offered to hold the event on campus.
Steven Bradbury's appearance brought out local doctors, teachers, accountants, bankers, students and mums and dads. There were over 180 people from all walks off life in the Bundaberg Lecture Theatre.
The event was inspirational. Steve spoke about the 12-year lead-up to winning Olympic gold, including his defining moments, when 2 serious injuries almost put his dreams out of reach.
He related how he'd been to 3 winter Olympic Games and he hadn't performed at his best. He spoke about his father's influence and how it shaped his life. And ultimately he spoke about his speed skate making company (RBC) that has just gone international.
Interestingly, Apolo Anton Ohno, who was the American tipped to win the 1000m Short Course Speed Skating event final, was actually wearing a pair of skates that Steve's business partner had made. Bradbury emailed Apolo the night before the final and asked him if he could ‘plug' his skates when he won. As we all know, Apolo never got to make that speech.
Looking back now, Steve Bradbury knows that luck and chance have definitely played a part in his success, but it was experience, strategy and planning that made him and that have kept him successful in his own business .
"When your moment to shine presents itself, will you be in a position and prepared to 'Do a Bradbury'?," says Steve.