J. R. Celski

J. R. Celski
Celski at the Seattle International Film Festival, May 2013
Personal information
Birth nameJohn Robert Celski
Born (1990-07-17) July 17, 1990 (age 34)
Monterey, California, U.S.
Height5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight140 lb (64 kg)
Websitewww.jrcelski.com
Sport
Country United States
SportShort track speed skating
ClubU.S. National Racing Program
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)500m: 39.937 (2012, Former WR)
1000m: 1:23.087 (2013)
1500m: 2:10.937 (2017)
3000m: 4:41.948 (2009)
Medal record
Men's short track speed skating
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2014 Sochi 5000 m relay
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Vancouver 1500 m
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Vancouver 5000 m relay
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2009 Vienna 3000 m
Gold medal – first place 2009 Vienna 5000 m relay
Gold medal – first place 2014 Montreal 3000 m
Silver medal – second place 2009 Vienna Overall
Silver medal – second place 2010 Sofia 5000 m relay
Silver medal – second place 2014 Montreal 500 m
Silver medal – second place 2014 Montreal Overall
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Vienna 1000 m
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Vienna 1500 m
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Sofia 1000 m
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Sofia 3000 m
World Team Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Vienna Team
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2009 Sherbrooke 500 m
Gold medal – first place 2009 Sherbrooke 5000 m relay
Bronze medal – third place 2006 Miercurea Ciuc 500 m
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Sherbrooke Overall

John Robert "J. R." Celski (/ˈsɛlski/, born July 17, 1990) is a retired[1] American short track speed skater, three-time Olympian, and three-time medalist in the Winter Olympics.[2] Celski has held a total of five combined Short Track World and Junior World Records throughout his career including the 500m and 5000m relay World Records as well as the 500m, 1000m and 3000m relay Junior World Records. Celski was a part of the team that broke and currently holds the World Record in the 5000m relay established in Shanghai, China on November 12, 2017.[3]

On October 21, 2012, in Calgary, Canada, Celski became the first person to skate under the 40 second barrier in the 500m event with a time of 39.937 seconds.[4] He held the World Record for this distance for over 5 years from October 2012 to February 2018.

At the 2010 Winter Olympics, Celski won bronze in the 1500 m and the 5000 m relay. Five months before the Olympics, Celski suffered a gruesome injury when he fell during a race and his right skate blade gashed his left thigh all the way to his femur bone and was uncertain if he would be able to skate again.[5]

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 three gold medals, four silver medals, and four bronze medals at the World Championships. He also has one bronze medal at the World Team Championships and four medals (two gold, two bronze) at the World Junior Championships.

  1. ^ "J.R. Celski retires after three Olympics, three medals in short track". OlympicTalk. November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  2. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "J. R. Celski". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 4, 2016.
  3. ^ "Short Track Speed Skating Records". shorttrack.sportresult.com. ISU. Archived from the original on March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  4. ^ "J.R. Celski Sets Short Track World Record". USA Today. Associated Press. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
  5. ^ Borzilleri, Meri-Jo (February 7, 2010). "J.R. Celski poised for return after gruesome injury". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on March 17, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2010.