Fil-Am speed skater wins bronze in Winter Olympics

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Filipino-American J.R. Celski bagged a bronze medal in the Short Track Speed Skating category of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada.

Nineteen-year-old Celski, who represented the US, battled from an injury he sustained 5 months ago to finish third with a best time of 2:12.460 in the Men’s 1500 meters, according to the Winter Olympics website.

He trailed silver medalist American Apolo Anton Ohno (2:11.072) and gold medalist Lee Jung-Su of South Korea (2:10.949).

The half-Filipino half-Polish speed skater, coached by Jae Su Chun, Larry Daigault and Jimmy Jang, also entered the Men’s 5000 m Relay and Men's 1000 m.

Celski’s Olympic dream was nearly snuffed by an accident at the US Olympic trials when he suffered a deep slice in his thigh all the way to the bone.

According to a report by the Associated Press, the Fil-Am accidentally slid into the boards feet-first, with his right foot jamming into his left thigh on impact. His skate blade sliced deep, nearly hitting his femoral artery.

"When I was laying out on the ice, I was in defeat at first. I thought my whole career was over. I guess in those moments we truly define ourselves. I pushed forward and I knew I could do it. I guess that's why I recovered so fast," he told AP.

According to his Vancouver 2010 page, Celski started with inline skating at age 3. He transferred to short track speed skating in 2002 after seeing Ohno compete in the the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Celski was unable to compete in the 2006 Winter Olympics because he missed the minimum age requirement by 17 days.

He graduated from secondary school in 2008 but chose to concentrate on his 2010 Vancouver bid instead of going to college.

After the Games, he said he plans to take up business or architecture at University of California Berkeley.

The Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics will run until February 28.