Athlete Bios
Short-track speedskating
Celski looks to be next Ohno
Last Updated: Saturday, February 6, 2010 | 9:32 PM ET
New York Times for CBC Sports
J.R Celski was too young to compete in the 2006 Winter Games, but he is considered to be a medal contender for Vancouver 2010. (Doug Benc/Getty Images)Speedskating experts have labelled J.R. Celski the next Apolo Anton Ohno. Those expectations were raised at the 2009 world championships, where Celski, 19, earned five medals and built the buzz that he was a serious medal contender in multiple distances for the 2010 Vancouver Games.
At those world championships, Celski won gold in the 3,000 meters and the 5,000 relay.
Celski was off to a smashing start at the United States short-track championships in September, leading the overall standings. But in the 500, he hit the boards while coming off a turn. As his body bounced, the blade on his right skate sliced into his left leg near the knee. It was a gruesome scene, blood spilling onto the ice and the crowd silent. Celski was rushed to the hospital.
Surgery was performed by Dr. Eric Heiden, the former speedskater, and Celski set his sights on skating in Vancouver. Because of the crash, he finished second to Ohno in the overall standings. Celski moved to the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., in October to begin therapy.
Like Ohno, Celski grew up in Federal Way, Wash., outside Seattle. His parents put Celski and his three brothers on inline skates early on, Celski by the time he was three. By the time he was four, Celski was skating regularly. When he was five, he competed in his first inline meet. At six, he placed sixth at the United States inline national championships.
Celski switched to speedskating after watching Ohno captivate an international audience at the 2002 Salt Lake Games. He now competes regularly against Ohno, and sometimes beats him.
At 14, Celski moved with his older brother Chris to California to find the best training. He missed the minimum age for the 2006 Turin Games by 17 days.
In June 2008, Celski graduated from Lakewood High School in Lakewood, Calif., with a 3.71 grade point average. As part of the California Merit Scholar Program, he also earned high honours. After the Vancouver Olympics, Celski plans to attend California-Berkeley, where he has already been accepted.
Celski, of Filipino and Polish descent, currently lives in Salt Lake City, where he trains year-round. An accomplished musician, he plays trumpet, acoustic guitar and keyboards.
