Speed Skater J.R. Celski

J.R. is the youngest of 3 sons born to Bob & Sue Celski. “J.R.” stands for John Robert which has great meaning for two special men in his life: Robert John Celski – his father and his Mom’s late brother, Al Mendoza Sabado, Jr. who was lovingly called “JR” by his five sisters. Thus the name “J.R.” given in honor of both great men. Born and raised in a disciplined army family, J.R. especially had his Dad and two older brothers to emulate.

J.R. is the youngest of 3 sons born to Bob & Sue Celski. “J.R.” stands for John Robert which has great meaning for two special men in his life: Robert John Celski – his father and his Mom’s late brother, Al Mendoza Sabado, Jr. who was lovingly called “JR” by his five sisters. Thus the name “J.R.” given in honor of both great men. Born and raised in a disciplined army family, J.R. especially had his Dad and two older brothers to emulate.

A native of Federal Way, Wash., Celski had early ties to Ohno, who hails from the same Seattle suburb. Celski’s older brother, Chris, grew up skating with Ohno. Though J.R. was just 3 years old when he started inline skating, he got to know Ohno as he rose through the ranks. Celski, decided take up short track after watching Ohno win gold at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City. Though comparisons to Ohno are inevitable, Celski says, “At first I liked it, but I’m my own person, just like everybody else.” Watching a video of Apolo Ohno winning Gold in Torino, Celski says, “I want the same feeling as every other athlete.”

At age 14, when Celski had been skating short track for about a year, his family decided he should move in order to get the best coaching. His parents, Sue and Bob, weren’t able to leave their jobs in Washington, so his brother Chris moved with him to Long Beach, Calif., where J.R. worked with world-renowned Dutch coach Wilma Boomstra. Chris, who had just graduated from San Jose State, found an apartment for them to share and got a job in the area. J.R. spent his first two years of high school in Long Beach before moving back home for his junior year. But it didn’t last. “I decided something wasn’t right, so I moved back to California to keep skating,” Celski said.

See J.R. as a little boy took to skating quickly

J.R. speed skating journey continues

J.R.’s mom, Sue Celski talks about J.R. and his road to the Olympics

J.R. talks about Olympic trials and his crash on the ice

For his second move to Long Beach, Celski’s dad came along, while his mom remained in Washington, where she works as a manager at the grocery store Safeway. Celski says he was inspired by his family’s willingness to sacrifice for his career. “There is not one word that can describe what my family has been to me,” he said. “Dedication and sacrifice don’t even cover it because they have done what most parents would think would be crazy.” His father was a vice president of Jiffy Lube Corp. in Washington, and now has his own business. Celski’s other brother, David, is a first lieutenant in the Army.

Celski graduated from Lakewood High School in California in 2008 with a 3.71 GPA. He has deferred enrollment at Cal-Berkeley until after the Vancouver Games, likely in the fall of 2010, and wants to study business or architecture. His decision to put off school came on the advice of an English teacher, who said, “School is a place, the Olympics float in time.” When Celski is not training, he plays the guitar and listens to music, and lists the Roots, Mos Def and Arcade Fire as a few of his favorite artists.

Good luck in Vancouver!

The photo credit is: NBC / USOC