Aussies turn on Steven Bradbury after TV return

Steven Bradbury first found fame proving nice guys don’t always finish last, nabbing an Olympic gold medal in an unforgettable speed skate.

But now Australia’s first ever Winter Olympic champion has been on the receiving end of some harsh criticism after making a shock return to the spotlight.

The controversy follows Steven’s debut on Australian Survivor where he was quickly dubbed the series’ ‘villain’ by fans and castmates alike.

Villain

Just days into the competition, the star’s antics were divisive enough to see him voted off the island by all eight of his teammates after attempting to form an alliance with the show’s other athletes.

However, Steven seemed to oust himself from the competition just an episode before his eviction after he confronted AFL star Abbey Holmes after she chose not to follow his allegiance.

What followed was the Olympian calling his teammate ‘weak’ and accusing Abbey’s decision of being ‘bulls**t’ before she fled the scene in tears.

This move led many of the show’s other contestant to side against Steven and had fans questioning the legitimacy behind his ‘nice guy’ image.

Fans quickly turn

“Steven Bradbury is coming across as a little too smug for my liking,” wrote one viewer.

“Steven is pressing self-destruct on his affable, larrikin, underdog personality on #SurvivorAU,” quipped another.

Despite the controversy, Steven stood by his opinion toward his teammate in an interview with 10 Daily - adding he had no regrets about how the events unfolded.

"I’m not the kind of person who’s going to be walking around begging people not to vote for me, I wanted to walk out of there with my head held high, and I did," he said.

The 44-year-old first became a household name in 2002 when he took home an Olympic gold medal in speed skating after his competitors slipped and fell in the event’s heat and final.

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