Short track skater Steven Bradbury survived a late wipe-out to win the men's 1,000m and Australia's first Winter Olympics gold medal.

The Australian was almost the last man standing after Chinese skater Li Jiajun triggered a mass tumble on the last turn.

Among the fallen was American medal hope Apolo Anton Ohno, who clambered to his feet to take silver.

The bronze medal went to Mathieu Turcotte of Canada, while Li was disqualified.



God smiles on you some days and this is my day

Steven Bradbury

Bradbury, a 28-year-old from Brisbane, was thanking his lucky stars as he coasted over the finish line from last place after taking advantage of the last lap pile-up. "It's good, but it doesn't feel right you know," he said with great honesty after the race. "I wasn't as strong as the other guys out there, but I am going to take it. "I came to these Games hoping to make up for opportunities where I didn't skate my best. I consider myself the luckiest man. "God smiles on you some days and this is my day."



