Olympic Speed Skaters Can Go From Last Place to Gold

Getty | Clive Mason

China's Li Jianrou had a huge stroke of luck at the 2014 Olympics when everyone else totally wiped out, leaving a clear path to gold. The women's speed skater was in last place during the 500-meter short track finals, but when British skater Elise Christie clipped Italy's Arianna Fontana, the two toppled over. Korea's Park Seung-Hi toppled, too, leaving Li Jianrou to snatch the gold.

This isn't the first time this has happened either! Back in 2002 at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Australian skater Steven Bradbury was in last place before everyone else slipped and slid, mere feet fromt the finish line. Steven glided to gold and raised his arms in disbelief. Check out the GIFs of both of the amazing (and lucky) moments below!

Li Jianrou at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi

Steven Bradbury at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake

Look at that winning face!

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