One of Australia’s greatest Olympic heroes is being honored for risking his life to save four girls from death.

The term “doing a Bradbury” has taken on a whole new meaning.

Steven Bradbury became synonymous with unexpected success after his shock victory at the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Now the former speed skater is being hailed for his courage after saving four girls from drowning on a beach on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast in March 2022.

Bradbury was the last man to compete in the men’s 1000m short track final in Salt Lake City, winning Australia’s first gold medal at the Winter Olympics.

Around 20 years later, he went into “Olympic mode” again to save the four teenagers from rough seas in Caloundra.

Bradbury (pictured winning gold at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City) was honored after saving the lives of four girls on a Queensland beach.

His heroic actions were officially recognized after he received a commendation for courageous conduct from the Queensland governor in Brisbane this week.

“With the Olympic gold medal, I trained for 14 years to be in this position,” Bradbury said.

“I don’t know how you can compare it to an award for bravery.

“But it was nice to know that the body and mind could return to Olympic mode for a few minutes when necessary.”

Bradbury was teaching his son how to surf in 2022 when he saw what he thought was a log in the huge swell.

“Then I realized it was a human head,” he said. “I hit the gear straight away. I sent my son to the rescuers and paddled out.

Bradbury first met a 12-year-old girl.

“I’ve never seen anyone look so scared in my life,” he said. “After that, I saw three more heads further away.”

He took the 12-year-old ashore before joining the others.

“One of them was hyperventilating and the other was panicking. They were getting beaten wave after wave,” he said.

“I put all three on the board, but we had no momentum.”

Steven Bradbury receives his Bravery Award from Queensland Governor Jeannette Young at Government House

Bradbury called the girls’ 2022 rescue on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast ‘one of the happiest days of my life’

Suddenly, the rescuer his son had alerted arrived on the scene, pulling two girls out of the water.

Bradbury took the other youth to the ground before all three teens got the all clear.

“The girl I got out of the water first came running up to me on the beach and hugged me and said ‘thank you for saving my life’,” she said. he declared.

“That’s when I realized I’d done something pretty cool.”

Bradbury received his bravery award from Queensland Governor Jeannette Young, earning him praise from the Australian Olympic Committee.

“We have always admired Steven for the way he made history on the ice, but his actions…reflect an incredible feat: saving four young lives,” said AOC President Ian Chesterman.

“He always had incredible courage as an athlete and that has served him well here.”

Bradbury may have won historic gold, but the four-time Olympian called the 2022 save “one of the happiest days of my life.”

“I don’t think a bravery award is necessary, but I’m happy to accept it and I’m quite proud of it,” he said.

“The feeling of knowing you saved lives is something I will take to my grave.”