Chinese skater replicates Stephen Bradbury and wins gold when all three rivals crash out

VIDEO: A Chinese skater did a Steven Bradbury to win gold at the Winter Olympics short track speed skating.

A CHINESE skater did a Steven Bradbury to win gold at the Winter Olympics short track speed skating.

Li Jianrou trailed her three rivals — Elise Christie of Great Britain, Arianna Fontana of Italy and Park Seung-hi of South Korea — in the 500m final before things quite literally fell her way to hand her an Olympic gold medal.

Li Jianrou swoops has her three competitors crash out in the 500m short track skating final.

While it wasn’t an exact replica of Bradbury’s famous win in 2002 (the crash that delivered him victory came on the final turn, while Jianrou’s stroke of luck came with four laps to go), her win was remarkably similar.

Christie caused the carnage when she clipped Fontana when the pair were in second and third place.

Li Jianrou of China cries after winning the women's 500m short track speedskating final.

Park almost escaped unscathed but then inexplicably fell and slid into the side of the rink, allowing Jianrou to cruise past and eventually win by six seconds.

Bradbury’s win in the 1000m in Salt Lake City made him the first athlete in history from the southern hemisphere to claim a Winter Olympics gold medal. It made him a household name in Australia and, in a sign it was meant to be, came after the same thing happened in his semi-final race.

China's Li Jianrou celebrates after winning the gold medal.