John Robert Celski gave the Philippines another reason to cheer about when he won the bronze medal in the 1,500-meter short-track speed skating event of the Vancouver Winter Olympics last Sunday.While he’s representing the United States in the event, Celski would like to spread the word that he’s proud to have a Filipino blood.
“I would love for people to know that I am Filipino. I am very proud to be Filipino. My mother is full blooded Filipino which makes me half,” Celski said in an e-mail interview last month. “Ever since I was a little kid I have been around the Filipino culture as most of my friends are Filipinos.”
The gutsy skater from Federal Way, Washington is the youngest of the three sons of a full-blooded Filipina who hails from Isabela.
Celski, who boasts of a Philippine flag tattoo on his chest, said he’s great fan of Pinoy dishes like sinigang, lechon, and Longganisa, and of course, pancit, lumpia, and adobo.
His third-placed finish was considered a great comeback considering the horrifying accident he figured in five months ago.
Celski endured a six-inch wide, two-inch deep cut on his thigh after his blades sliced through it following a full-speed crash in a US Trials, according to CNN.
Ceslki, who started to skate at age three, earned a slot in the US team and in the Games by snaring two gold, one silver and two bronze edals last year at the World Championships in Austria.
Only on his first stint in the Games, Celski will try to nail a gold medal in the 5,000m relay on February 26.
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