J.R. Celski
Encyclopedia
John Robert "J. R." Celski (ˈsɛlski, born July 17, 1990) is an American
short track speed skater and two-time medalist (two bronze) in the Winter Olympics.
At the 2010 Winter Olympics
, Celski won bronze in the 1500 m and the 5000 m relay. His bronze medal in the 1500 m was a result of two Korean
skaters crashing into each other. Leading into the crash, he was in fifth place. Five months before the Olympics, Celski suffered a gruesome injury when he gashed his left thigh by his skate blade and was uncertain if he would compete at the Olympics.
Celski's breakthrough performance was at the 2009 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships where he won five medals (two gold, one silver, two bronze). Overall, Celski has won two gold medals, two silver medals, and four bronze medals at the World Championships
. He also has one bronze medal at the World Team Championships
and five medals (two gold, one silver, three bronze) at the World Junior Championships
.
where his father Robert Celski was serving in the U.S. Army. He was raised in Federal Way, Washington
. His father, Robert, is of Polish descent and his mother, Sue, is of Filipino
descent. Celski has two older brothers, Chris and David; David serves as Captain in the United States Army
, and Chris is in fashion as an executive at Nordstrom
. Celski attended Lakewood High School
in Lakewood, California
, as well as Todd Beamer High School
in Federal Way, Washington, graduating with high honors in the Merit Scholars Program. After the 2010 Winter Olympics
, Celski initially intended to start his first year of college at the University of California, Berkeley
; however, he has now delayed his college plans in order to focus on his new business promoting the Seattle arts scene, M.A.D. Northwest.
Before switching to speed skating after seeing the 2002 Winter Olympics
, Celski was a champion-class in-line skater
. He missed the minimum age requirement for the 2006 Winter Olympics
by 17 days.
with a time of 2:16.780. In his second event, the 500 m, Celski won with a time of 41.462. Celski finished third overall with 58 points. Celski then combined with Eduardo Alvarez, Jonathan Sermeno, and Robert Lawrence in the 3000 m relay to finish first with a time of 4:06.032.
and Kwak Yoon-Gy
with a time of 2:14.974. In the 1000 m, Celski placed third behind Lee Ho-Suk and Apolo Ohno with a time of 1:26.348. In his third event, the 3000 m, Celski won with a time of 4:48.444. Celski finished second overall with 65 points. Celski then combined with Ryan Bedford
, Jordan Malone
, and Apolo Ohno in the 5000 m relay to finish first with a time of 6:51.400.
. Celski finished second overall and was leading in points after the first two nights of the trials, but was injured during a crash in the semifinals of the 500 m race where his right skate sliced into his left leg; he did not skate in the second 1000 m races. His injury required emergency surgery
, 60 stitches, and five months of rehabilitation with the help of Eric Heiden
. Celski was unsure if he would ever compete again. During the 1000 m time trial, Apolo Ohno, with a personal best of 1:24.500, came in second to Celski, who skated a personal best of 1:23.981. Celski, along with Ohno, Jordan Malone
, Travis Jayner
and Simon Cho
were the top five finishers at the trials. Afterwards, Ohno said about the nominated team: "This is the strongest team we've ever had. I feel really good about how we will do in the next Olympics".
in Vancouver
, Celski won a pair of bronze medals. One in the 1500 m and another in the 5000 m relay. In the 1500 m final, Celski won the bronze medal after 2006 silver medalist Lee Ho-Suk
crashed into fellow Korean skater Sung Si-Bak
during the final turn of the last lap. Celski was in fifth place leading into the crash and as a result moved into third place. Apolo Ohno moved into second place. Celski was disqualified in the 1000 m semifinals after knocking Canadian skater Francois Hamelin
to the ground. The 5000 m relay team for the United States finished with the bronze medal. The team, consisting of Apolo Ohno, Simon Cho
, Travis Jayner
, Jordan Malone
and Celski, was in the fourth position for the majority of the race. With a strong push from Celski with two laps to go, Ohno as the anchor leg
was able to pass the Chinese team for third place; Canada won the gold and South Korea took silver.
in 1st. Celski finished in 4th place, in front of teammate Travis Jayner
, who came in 6th. The next day, Celski competed in the 500 m. During the semifinals, Celski attempted a pass from fourth to third place, but during his pass, François-Louis Tremblay
of Canada, in second place at the time, fell, tripping Celski on his way down. Celski finished the race in 3rd, but was then disqualified, while Tremblay advanced. In the 1000 m, Celski finished third behind Lee Ho-Suk
and Kwak Yoon-Gy
with a time of 1:27.515. In the 3000 m, Celski again placed third behind Lee Ho-Suk and Kwak Yoon-Gy. Celski finished fourth overall with 39 points. Celski then combined with Jordan Malone
, Travis Jayner
, and Simon Cho
in the 5000 m relay to finish second behind South Korea
with a time of 6:46.205.
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
short track speed skater and two-time medalist (two bronze) in the Winter Olympics.
At the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
, Celski won bronze in the 1500 m and the 5000 m relay. His bronze medal in the 1500 m was a result of two Korean
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
skaters crashing into each other. Leading into the crash, he was in fifth place. Five months before the Olympics, Celski suffered a gruesome injury when he gashed his left thigh by his skate blade and was uncertain if he would compete at the Olympics.
Celski's breakthrough performance was at the 2009 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships where he won five medals (two gold, one silver, two bronze). Overall, Celski has won two gold medals, two silver medals, and four bronze medals at the World Championships
World Short Track Speed Skating Championships
The World Short Track Speed Skating Championships are a senior international short track speed skating competition held once a year to determine the World Champion in individual distances, relays and Overall Classification...
. He also has one bronze medal at the World Team Championships
World Short Track Speed Skating Team Championships
The World Short Track Speed Skating Team Championships are a professional team short track speed skating event and held once a year in a different country.Top 8 countries from Short Track World Cup Series qualify automatically...
and five medals (two gold, one silver, three bronze) at the World Junior Championships
World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships
The World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships are a junior short track speed skating event and held once a year in a different country....
.
Personal life
Celski was born in Monterey, CaliforniaMonterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
where his father Robert Celski was serving in the U.S. Army. He was raised in Federal Way, Washington
Federal Way, Washington
Federal Way is a city in King County, Washington, United States. Federal Way is located between Seattle and Tacoma. Its western boundary is Puget Sound. It is bordered by Des Moines on the north, Kent, unincorporated King County, and Milton on the east and Tacoma and Fife on the south...
. His father, Robert, is of Polish descent and his mother, Sue, is of Filipino
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
descent. Celski has two older brothers, Chris and David; David serves as Captain in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, and Chris is in fashion as an executive at Nordstrom
Nordstrom
Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale department store chain in the United States, founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin. Initially a shoe retailer, the company today also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings...
. Celski attended Lakewood High School
Lakewood High School (California)
Lakewood High School is a public secondary school located in the Southern California city of Lakewood. Founded in 1957, it is part of the Long Beach Unified School District...
in Lakewood, California
Lakewood, California
Lakewood is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 80,048 at the 2010 census. It is bordered by Long Beach on the west and south, Bellflower on the north, Cerritos on the northeast, Cypress on the east, and Hawaiian Gardens on the southeast. Major thoroughfares...
, as well as Todd Beamer High School
Todd Beamer High School
Todd Beamer High School is a four year secondary school located in Federal Way, Washington within the Federal Way School District. The school was built in 2003 and was named after Todd Morgan Beamer a passenger aboard United Airlines Flight 93 during the September 11, 2001 attacks He was one of...
in Federal Way, Washington, graduating with high honors in the Merit Scholars Program. After the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
, Celski initially intended to start his first year of college at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
; however, he has now delayed his college plans in order to focus on his new business promoting the Seattle arts scene, M.A.D. Northwest.
Before switching to speed skating after seeing the 2002 Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
, Celski was a champion-class in-line skater
Inline speed skating
Inline speed skating is the sport of racing on inline skates It is often called inline racing by participants. Although it primarily evolved from racing on traditional roller skates, the sport is similar enough to ice speed skating that many competitors are now known to switch between inline and...
. He missed the minimum age requirement for the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
by 17 days.
2009 World Junior Championships
In the 1500 m, Celski won silver behind Um Cheon-HoUm Cheon-Ho
Um Cheon-Ho is a South Korean short track speed skater.-External links:*Profile from...
with a time of 2:16.780. In his second event, the 500 m, Celski won with a time of 41.462. Celski finished third overall with 58 points. Celski then combined with Eduardo Alvarez, Jonathan Sermeno, and Robert Lawrence in the 3000 m relay to finish first with a time of 4:06.032.
2009 World Championships
In the 1500 m, Celski placed third behind Lee Ho-SukLee Ho-Suk
Lee Ho-Suk is a South Korean short track speedskater. He won an Olympic gold medal as a part of 5000m Short-track relay team and won four Olympic silver medals. He is the Overall World Champion for 2009 and 2010.-Career:...
and Kwak Yoon-Gy
Kwak Yoon-Gy
Kwak Yoon-Gy is a South Korean short track speed skater.-External links:*...
with a time of 2:14.974. In the 1000 m, Celski placed third behind Lee Ho-Suk and Apolo Ohno with a time of 1:26.348. In his third event, the 3000 m, Celski won with a time of 4:48.444. Celski finished second overall with 65 points. Celski then combined with Ryan Bedford
Ryan Bedford
Ryan Bedford is an American speed skater who competed at the 2010 Winter Olympics.-External links:...
, Jordan Malone
Jordan Malone
Jordan Malone is an American short track speed skater who is a member of the US Olympic Team for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. He is from Denton, Texas, and is an alumnus of the Texas Tech University Independent School District....
, and Apolo Ohno in the 5000 m relay to finish first with a time of 6:51.400.
Trials
The U.S. Short Track Speed Skating Olympic Trials were held September 8–12, 2009 in Marquette, MichiganMarquette, Michigan
Marquette is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Marquette County. The population was 21,355 at the 2010 census, making it the most populated city of the Upper Peninsula. Marquette is a major port on Lake Superior, primarily for shipping iron ore and is the home of Northern...
. Celski finished second overall and was leading in points after the first two nights of the trials, but was injured during a crash in the semifinals of the 500 m race where his right skate sliced into his left leg; he did not skate in the second 1000 m races. His injury required emergency surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
, 60 stitches, and five months of rehabilitation with the help of Eric Heiden
Eric Heiden
Eric Arthur Heiden, M.D. is an American former long track speed skater and road cyclist who won all the men's speed skating races, and thus an unprecedented five individual gold medals, and set four Olympic records and one world record at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York,...
. Celski was unsure if he would ever compete again. During the 1000 m time trial, Apolo Ohno, with a personal best of 1:24.500, came in second to Celski, who skated a personal best of 1:23.981. Celski, along with Ohno, Jordan Malone
Jordan Malone
Jordan Malone is an American short track speed skater who is a member of the US Olympic Team for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. He is from Denton, Texas, and is an alumnus of the Texas Tech University Independent School District....
, Travis Jayner
Travis Jayner
Travis Jayner is a Canadian-born American short track speed skater who is a member of the US Olympic Team for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. He earned a bronze medal in the 5000-meter relay with teammates Apolo Ohno, J.R...
and Simon Cho
Simon Cho
Simon Cho is an American short track speed skater who was a member of the US Olympic Team for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.-Early life:...
were the top five finishers at the trials. Afterwards, Ohno said about the nominated team: "This is the strongest team we've ever had. I feel really good about how we will do in the next Olympics".
Games
At the 2010 Winter Olympics2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Celski won a pair of bronze medals. One in the 1500 m and another in the 5000 m relay. In the 1500 m final, Celski won the bronze medal after 2006 silver medalist Lee Ho-Suk
Lee Ho-Suk
Lee Ho-Suk is a South Korean short track speedskater. He won an Olympic gold medal as a part of 5000m Short-track relay team and won four Olympic silver medals. He is the Overall World Champion for 2009 and 2010.-Career:...
crashed into fellow Korean skater Sung Si-Bak
Sung Si-Bak
Sung Si-Bak is a South Korean short track speed skater. At the 2007 Winter Universiade, he won all five short track speed skating events. Sung has won more than 20 World Cup races and earned two World Cup titles, in addition to skating on the winning World Championship 5000 m relay teams in...
during the final turn of the last lap. Celski was in fifth place leading into the crash and as a result moved into third place. Apolo Ohno moved into second place. Celski was disqualified in the 1000 m semifinals after knocking Canadian skater Francois Hamelin
François Hamelin
François Hamelin is a Canadian short track speed skater from Sainte-Julie, Quebec, currently residing in Montreal. He is the younger brother of acclaimed Canadian short tracker Charles Hamelin...
to the ground. The 5000 m relay team for the United States finished with the bronze medal. The team, consisting of Apolo Ohno, Simon Cho
Simon Cho
Simon Cho is an American short track speed skater who was a member of the US Olympic Team for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.-Early life:...
, Travis Jayner
Travis Jayner
Travis Jayner is a Canadian-born American short track speed skater who is a member of the US Olympic Team for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. He earned a bronze medal in the 5000-meter relay with teammates Apolo Ohno, J.R...
, Jordan Malone
Jordan Malone
Jordan Malone is an American short track speed skater who is a member of the US Olympic Team for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. He is from Denton, Texas, and is an alumnus of the Texas Tech University Independent School District....
and Celski, was in the fourth position for the majority of the race. With a strong push from Celski with two laps to go, Ohno as the anchor leg
Anchor leg
Anchor leg refers to the final position in a relay race. The term is commonly used with respect to relays in athletics. Typically, the anchor leg of a relay is given to the fastest or most experienced competitor on a team...
was able to pass the Chinese team for third place; Canada won the gold and South Korea took silver.
2010 World Championships
Celski advanced to finals of the 1500 m after winning 1st place in the heats, quarterfinals, and semifinals. During the finals, Celski was in the lead with about five laps to go, but in the last few laps, the three Korean skaters managed to overtake him, sweeping the podium with Kwak Yoon-GyKwak Yoon-Gy
Kwak Yoon-Gy is a South Korean short track speed skater.-External links:*...
in 1st. Celski finished in 4th place, in front of teammate Travis Jayner
Travis Jayner
Travis Jayner is a Canadian-born American short track speed skater who is a member of the US Olympic Team for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. He earned a bronze medal in the 5000-meter relay with teammates Apolo Ohno, J.R...
, who came in 6th. The next day, Celski competed in the 500 m. During the semifinals, Celski attempted a pass from fourth to third place, but during his pass, François-Louis Tremblay
François-Louis Tremblay
François-Louis Tremblay is a Canadian short track speed skater and five-time Olympic medalist who competed at the 2002, 2006, and 2010 Winter Olympics....
of Canada, in second place at the time, fell, tripping Celski on his way down. Celski finished the race in 3rd, but was then disqualified, while Tremblay advanced. In the 1000 m, Celski finished third behind Lee Ho-Suk
Lee Ho-Suk
Lee Ho-Suk is a South Korean short track speedskater. He won an Olympic gold medal as a part of 5000m Short-track relay team and won four Olympic silver medals. He is the Overall World Champion for 2009 and 2010.-Career:...
and Kwak Yoon-Gy
Kwak Yoon-Gy
Kwak Yoon-Gy is a South Korean short track speed skater.-External links:*...
with a time of 1:27.515. In the 3000 m, Celski again placed third behind Lee Ho-Suk and Kwak Yoon-Gy. Celski finished fourth overall with 39 points. Celski then combined with Jordan Malone
Jordan Malone
Jordan Malone is an American short track speed skater who is a member of the US Olympic Team for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. He is from Denton, Texas, and is an alumnus of the Texas Tech University Independent School District....
, Travis Jayner
Travis Jayner
Travis Jayner is a Canadian-born American short track speed skater who is a member of the US Olympic Team for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. He earned a bronze medal in the 5000-meter relay with teammates Apolo Ohno, J.R...
, and Simon Cho
Simon Cho
Simon Cho is an American short track speed skater who was a member of the US Olympic Team for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.-Early life:...
in the 5000 m relay to finish second behind South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
with a time of 6:46.205.