5 Questions We Ask Everyone: Olympic Short Track Speed Skater, J.R. Celski

January 13, 2010     Posted in Cool Stuff

J.R. speed-skated his way to my heart. OMG, did I just write that?

Half Filipino.
Half Polish.
One hundred percent heartthrob.

61

By Jackelyn

Let’s talk J.R. Celski.

He’s single, he’s 19-years old, and he’s an amazing short track speed skating sensation competing for Team USA in the Vancouver Olympics. And he’s officially your reason to tune in!

J.R. has been skating since he was a mere three years old when his parents gave him Playschool roller skates for his birthday (I can’t even remember what I got for my third birthday – cake, maybe?). Since then, he’s been dedicating his life to skating, but it wasn’t until he found out about speed skating on ice in 2002 that he realized this was a passion not to be joked around with. So he swapped his wheeled skates for some 17 ½ inch blades, moved from the roller rink to the ice rink, and thus began his journey to the Olympics. And boy, has it been quite an adventure.

J.R.’s hard work and focus has allowed him to win several medals, including a recent silver at the World Championships. Then, in September 2009, he finally got the opportunity he had been waiting for his whole life: a chance to compete in the Olympic trials. He was doing a phenomenal job and then, just like that, he slipped and slammed into the unforgiving wall surrounding the rink. The whole room was stunned into silence as blood gushed out of his left thigh, where his right skate blade had deeply immersed itself.

Regardless of his gruesome injury, J.R. had gained enough points to win an impressive overall silver medal in the Olympic trials. This qualified him as one of the five swift speed skaters to make the men’s short track team. Although some were doubtful of a successful recovery in time for the Olympics, J.R.’s optimism brought him weeks ahead of schedule. He is currently heavily training in Salt Lake City and is more than ready for what’s to come. What a trooper!

Anyone else might have given up after such a horrific event, but J.R. stands out from the pack. He has a clear-cut goal, a determined mindset, and an unbreakable spirit. Despite fierce competition in his short track events, the world needs to watch out for this charming cutie – he’s the next big thing! Naturally, we grew quite fond of J.R. (and not just that adorable hair), so we begged and pleaded with his people to let us talk to him. Here’s what he had to say:

5 Questions We Ask Everybody:

1. What is the most trouble you have ever gotten into?
Ummmm, wow. I don’t know. I don’t think I’ve ever been that much in trouble before! My parents didn’t really go too hard on me when I did something wrong. I try to be a good kid.

2. What are the 5 things you cannot live without?
My family (mom, dad, 2 brothers, and sister-in-law), friends, music, skates, and my golf bag.

3. What is your motto or advice you live by?
“If you want something bad enough, you’ll find a way. And if you don’t, then you’ll find an excuse.”

4. What is your favorite song to sing while you’re in the car/in the shower/ at karaoke?
Oh man. I like so many different artists; it’s so hard to choose. Probably, “Just Friends,” by Musiq Soulchild.

5. Finish this sentence: 10 years from now, I will be…
Oooh, I don’t even know! How about, I will be a successful person!

5 Things You Probably Really Want to Know About J.R., plus a bonus question!

1. When you go into competition, what’s going through your head?
Well, it depends on what competition you’re going into. I just had my first Olympic trials, and going into that one, it was either a ‘make it or break it’ situation. That was a little bit stressful. But, going into that competition I was at the top of my game and I made sure that I had a spot on the team.

2. Tell me about your accident.
Well, I could talk about this all day because it’s been my life for the past couple of months. It was an experience because I’ve never been through anything that dramatic before. I mean, looking down at my leg cut open during Olympic trials and knowing that my family was there watching, my dreams were kind of shattered. It just wasn’t a very good situation to be in. But I had to fight. I know that most athletes that are trying to be great at what they do have some kind of accident that they have to overcome. I kind of looked at it like that and took it step by step through rehab. I told myself that I would be able to come back from this. I want to be a good athlete and in order to do that, I have to overcome obstacles. I just looked at it like it happened because it was meant to happen.

3. It’s been said that after the Olympics, you will be attending University of California-Berkeley. (His major will be Business Management or International Relations!) Do you think you’ll still be training while you’re there?
I haven’t figured that out yet. I’ll definitely be staying in shape, but I don’t know. I might compete next year. I just really wanted to take this opportunity, because I got accepted and I don’t want to throw that away. I just want to focus and do that for a little bit. I’m kind of nervous though, especially going to a school like Berkeley.

4. You start your day at 6:45 am and train until 6pm. Being such a busy person, what is your dating life like? Do you ever have time for relationships?
I mean, I’m not going to block girls out from my life. If someone came along and I was interested, then of course I’d take the opportunity. I guess I’m pretty picky – I don’t have a lot of time. Training is like a full time job, but there’s always time. It’s not different from a college kid’s schedule, in term of relationships.

5. You said you’re picky – what do you look for in a girl?
Oh, that’s a good question. I haven’t been asked that in a long time – why are you pressuring me?! Let’s see, one that is independent, open-minded, tries hard at whatever she wants to do, and has goals and dreams. I like optimism.

6. I’m optimistic. Er….I mean…moving on. Just for fun – do you think you’re a sensitive or tough guy?
I am actually a pretty emotional kind of guy; I’m not going to lie. I’ve always been. I find that holding feelings in will make you break some day. I like to be open about how I feel and I hope that whoever I’m with is the same way. I mean, I keep my head down and really bite down when I’m out training and I don’t get very emotional for skating. But, everything else, like my personal life, I’m pretty open.

Watch J.R. skate for Team USA in February during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics! Check out his schedule to see when he’ll be competing. Good luck, J.R.!

61 Comments on "5 Questions We Ask Everyone: Olympic Short Track Speed Skater, J.R. Celski"

  1. Tiff says:
    Wed, 13th Jan 20109:16 am 

    Good for you. Lucky girls you. :)

  2. Lexy says:
    Wed, 13th Jan 20109:28 am 

    OMG!! What a hottie, thanks for bringing him to my attention, I think I am in love, he is MINE!! Can't wait to see him at the olympics in those tight speed skater pants

  3. BG says:
    Wed, 13th Jan 20109:29 am 

    What a great article! Very well written. I'm looking forward to watching JR during the Olympics! Good luck…sounds like you've had a crazy journey.

  4. Britt says:
    Wed, 13th Jan 20109:31 am 

    I LOVE THIS! it's a good mix of humor and seriousness. i wasn't thinking of watching the vancouver olympics at first, but this post pretty much changed my mind!!! yay!!! go jr!!!

  5. BG says:
    Wed, 13th Jan 20109:33 am 

    Very well written article! I hope that he wins. He's been through a lot!!! WHOO TEAM USA!!!!

  6. Britt says:
    Wed, 13th Jan 20109:36 am 

    you know, i wasn't thinking of watching the winter olympics this year. this post pretty much changed my mind. LOVE IT!

  7. nessa says:
    Wed, 13th Jan 20109:38 am 

    filipino pride!!! representin'!

  8. mcKenzie says:
    Wed, 13th Jan 20109:52 am 

    you're a very inspiring olympian. i don't think very many people would have recovered as quickly as you did. it's crazy. if you believe, then anything is possible.

    anyway, the questions that were asked got very honest answers (funny, too!). keep it up.

    don't worry, i will be watching out for this up and coming star!

  9. Robert says:
    Wed, 13th Jan 20109:55 am 

    Very interesting young star. Looking forward to how he fares for TEAM USA in the upcoming games. I may be stuck overseas but will certainly catch his events.

  10. janie says:
    Wed, 13th Jan 20109:57 am 

    i think he's golden. simply amazing. omg, best post on college candy ever! seriously! sooooo goooooooooood wow.

  11. Caitlin says:
    Wed, 13th Jan 20109:57 am 

    He is single? seriously, yayyy, i cant wait to watch my future husband in action!!

  12. JESSIE says:
    Wed, 13th Jan 20109:59 am 

    yeah, i pretty much agree with everyone here. HE IS SUPER STAR STATUS, YALLS!!!!

  13. Shauna says:
    Wed, 13th Jan 201010:01 am 

    what a lil cutie, he reminds of my little brother

  14. Karen says:
    Wed, 13th Jan 201010:02 am 

    one more month til we see how he does! I've never been so excited for the winter games!!!

  15. Tiff says:
    Wed, 13th Jan 201010:08 am 

    hahahaha. lovin these hilarious comments. Great article! he sounds like a really down to earth guy and inspirational, and if he's as good and passionate as you say he is then we bout to get some gold medals!! hahaha Team U.S.A!!!! Whoooooooo! :)

  16. Sam says:
    Wed, 13th Jan 201012:42 pm 

    I used to have a crush on Apolo Anton Ohno but now I'm not so sure anymore. Team JR or Team Apolo!??

  17. Vera says:
    Wed, 13th Jan 201012:46 pm 

    WHOA-HO. I love how the mixed breeds turn out. Very talented and for the most part very chameleon and very cute. Why is it that only the cute ones get press? Speed skating has never been such a popular event till Apolo came along but I guess it helped bring the sport to light. Good job. Looks and talent go well together. I hope he wins. Thanks for writing a fun article about JR. Before you know it, he'll be on the pages of Seventeen and Cosmogirl. YUM!

  18. A.C. says:
    Wed, 13th Jan 20105:26 pm 

    Can I pretty, pretty please have him? He seems so down to earth.

  19. Pam says:
    Wed, 13th Jan 20106:38 pm 

    Awesome article, Jackelyn!!!! Yay JR! Can't wait to see him at the Olympics!

  20. Libby says:
    Thu, 14th Jan 20106:07 am 

    Love this article! Thanks for putting a spotlight on one of the new faces to the US Speedskating team :) J.R. and the rest of our athletes have worked so hard to represent our country in Vancouver.

    If you want to keep up with J.R. and the rest of the team, check them out on our US Speedskating Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/USSpeedskating Thanks!

  21. stephy says:
    Tue, 19th Jan 20108:56 pm 

    sounds good…just hope he's really as down to earth as it sounds!

  22. lilyanne says:
    Tue, 19th Jan 20108:58 pm 

    THANK GOD college candy is writing more about realistic things, rather than how to hook up with the guy next door. this post is great. i love hearing about new talents…now i can brag to my friends that i knew him first!!!!!!! sweet!!!!!

  23. josiE! says:
    Tue, 19th Jan 20109:00 pm 

    WHAT A CUTIE!!!! OMFG. countin' down the days till i get to see him skate down the ice!!!!!

  24. Bryant P. says:
    Tue, 19th Jan 20109:03 pm 

    Absolutely amazing. People say that injuries only make you stronger – I believe this will be true of JR. I am confident he will win gold.

    Speed skating is not an easy sport, but this kid knows what he's doing. Come on, JR. MAKE TEAM USA PROUD! We're rooting for you.

  25. vienna says:
    Mon, 25th Jan 20105:33 pm 

    omg hotness. so cool. go you.

  26. Kiah says:
    Tue, 9th Feb 20104:19 pm 

    Wow, I'm glad to see him looking so much better!

    I was actually at the Speed skating trials when he cut himself– I was about five rows from the wall sitting next to his grandmother! (The entire thing was kind of traumatic.)

    I'm so happy that his dreams and goals are still on track, though. :) He really is a cutie, and I hope he really kicks butt in the Olympics…

    He just isn't allowed to fall again!!!

  27. Jackelyn - San Franc says:
    Tue, 9th Feb 20108:55 pm 

    Thanks for all of the supportive comments, haha.

    Kiah, your comment just stood out to me though. I can't believe you saw him fall at the trials. I can't imagine what that must have been like…I guess we're all just hoping that he does well at the Olympics & like you said, hopefully he doesn't hurt himself again!

    Anyway, the Olympics are in just a few days, with JR's first competition scheduled for this Saturday! STAY TUNED, College Candy!!!

  28. ali says:
    Wed, 10th Feb 20109:04 am 

    OMG OMG OMG. i can't believe i found this. he talks about everything i have wanted to know!!! this is waaaay more chill than the other more serious nbc ones i've seen. love it!!!!!

    can't wait to see him compete this saturday!!!! GO JR!!!!!! bring home gold!!!! he's about to make it big :)

  29. Monica & Magi says:
    Sat, 13th Feb 20108:34 am 

    JR is an amazing athlete!!!

    http://jrcelski.blogspot.com/

  30. Corrina says:
    Sat, 13th Feb 201010:19 pm 

    WHOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HIM WINNING THE SILVER WAS THE COMPLETE HIGHLIGHT OF MY DAY!!!!!!!!!!!! ESPECIALLY how it went korea, america america!!! I LOVE THIS BOI NOW!! AHAHAHA then again it was kooreas fault, they wiped each other out!!

    AHA my mas like i hope you dont love him!! aha as an athlete i do!! thatd be awesome to meet him! now ive considered trying out for speed skating!!

    (the olympics are in Vancouver Canada, Im in Vancouver washington! SO CLOSE AND I CANT BELIVE IM NOT THERE!! if i were to pick one event to attend.. it would DEFINETLY BE SPEED SKATING!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK JOHN ROBERT CELSKI!!

  31. Miranda says:
    Sat, 13th Feb 201010:45 pm 

    He won bronze! I am so proud of him, go USA!

  32. Leslie says:
    Sun, 14th Feb 201012:01 am 

    OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!! HE WON BRONZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that was probably, like, the best race ever!

  33. Nica says:
    Sun, 14th Feb 201012:03 am 

    he is so cute. how did i just discover him now? wow talk about a great comeback story. the olympics just got so much more interesting. i could watch it if everyone was as good looking as jr. yay for short track speed skating!

  34. Tina says:
    Sun, 14th Feb 20109:46 am 

    OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOMEBOY WON BRONZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! college candy, i love you…

  35. betsey says:
    Sun, 14th Feb 20106:31 pm 

    proud of u, jr! go get em.

  36. Sasha says:
    Sun, 14th Feb 20106:32 pm 

    wow, what a good article. vry refreshing frm the ones i've seen. good to know he's single ;)

  37. marmes says:
    Sun, 14th Feb 20106:33 pm 

    COOOOOOOL!!!!!!! i luv this <3

    Nica is right. how did i jus discover him? so cute. sigh.

  38. hm says:
    Mon, 15th Feb 201011:09 am 

    That was such an exciting race, I'm glad he got a medal. It's cool to see because he's one of the few athletes with a similar mix of ethnicities as me (I'm half polish, half asian(chinese), but also grew up in the US)

  39. V says:
    Mon, 15th Feb 20102:31 pm 

    Seems like such a nice, good kid. Absolutely adorable, as well. Hope he stays grounded, I hope to meet him someday! Best wishes to him. He's going places.

  40. kiti says:
    Wed, 17th Feb 201012:36 am 

    this guy is legit!

  41. mandie says:
    Wed, 17th Feb 201010:06 pm 

    great article! When i first saw him on the Olympics I had never heard of him before, but I thought he was really cute!!!!! then I saw him skate and I liked him even more!!!! I really hope to meet him someday!!!! He just seems so perfect!!!!!! haha I'm not obsessive at all =)

  42. Kailey says:
    Sat, 20th Feb 20109:49 am 

    I never heard of him before until Sat. when he won BRONZE! I'm so happy for him! On Wednesday when it was the race for the semifinals (or was it something else?) I almost screamed when he was qualified! And great article! On Sat. that was like an INTENSE race! The three Korean dudes were about to win all medals then just like that two of them went bye-bye! YAY! I hope he qualifies today!!!!!!!! eep, im so excited!

  43. Tiger Lily says:
    Sat, 20th Feb 201011:13 pm 

    Hottie Boom Boom-a-lottie.

  44. brandi says:
    Sun, 21st Feb 20107:53 pm 

    omg he totally got robbed of a medal. stupid refs! doesnt matter, i still love him! <3

  45. lisa says:
    Mon, 22nd Feb 20101:09 pm 

    SO CUTE

  46. Meggy says:
    Mon, 22nd Feb 20101:14 pm 

    very good article! love the style of writing.

  47. joan Rhee says:
    Tue, 2nd Mar 20105:34 pm 

    amazing boy. he totally should not have been disqualified in that qualification round… >:( it would have given us more time to see him on tv… *sigh* i lost my voice screaming at the tv on that one…

    ooo UC Berkeley…looks like i know one of the schools where i hope to apply to!! hahah :)

  48. brandi says:
    Tue, 2nd Mar 20109:44 pm 

    joan, i was mad when he got dq'd, too!!!! but hey, at least we got to see the tattoo ;)

  49. terah says:
    Wed, 3rd Mar 20105:54 am 

    Oh my god. This is the best interview I've seen. I love how you asked about his love life/girls hahahaha. best part.

  50. annie says:
    Sun, 14th Mar 20107:43 pm 

    this is awesome and most def the best article on him! i printed it out and stuck it on my wall. =D

  51. liz says:
    Sun, 28th Mar 20106:54 pm 

    YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

  52.  Curtain Lining says:
    Wed, 18th Aug 20108:13 am 

    Roller Skating has always been the favorite sport of my sister.;,

  53. Arthritis Treatment& says:
    Tue, 19th Oct 201011:55 pm 

    roller skating is my sport, this sport is very enjoyable and is a form of exercise too“.

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