Where "Do a Bradbury" Comes From
The phrase comes from Australian speed skater Steven Bradbury, who won gold in the 1000m short-track event at the 2002 Winter Olympics after every other finalist collided and fell on the last corner, leaving him to skate through untouched.
Bradbury had deliberately hung back through earlier rounds, benefiting from crashes ahead of him each time — his unlikely victory was so celebrated that "do a Bradbury" was added to the Australian National Dictionary in 2016.
"Nobody thought he'd place, but he did a Bradbury when the leaders all crashed out."
How Aussies Actually Use It
"Do a Bradbury" describes any unexpected win that comes about through the misfortune of others rather than outright dominance.
It's used across sport and everyday life, always with a knowing nod to the sheer improbability of Bradbury's original gold medal.
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