{J.R. Celski} USA Olympic Bronze Medalist

If we're friends on Facebook or you follow me on Twitter, you may have heard my excitement over my former students performance in the Vancouver Winter Olympics this past weekend. JR Celski took the bronze medal in the short track speed skating 1500m race.

 

J.R. was a student of mine at Lakewood High School, however we share our roots in the Pacific Northwest. He moved to Long Beach in 2004 to train with one the best short track coaches. I'm so incredibly proud of him and this MAJOR life accomplishment, especially after suffering a serious accident only months ago. The Olympics always make me a bit emotional, seeing the dreams of young people come to fruition*, so it's especially touching to watch someone I know. I still remember being a 9-year old little girl watching Mary Lou Retton winning the 1984 Olympics in gymnastics and dreaming that I would some day be her. (So we all know how that turned out, but a girl can dream!)

Did you catch the Opening Ceremony? Over 200 US athletes marched into the stadium and the camera zoned in on JR, introducing him, and he was all smiles! JR was featured yesterday on the front page on our local newspaper, The Long Beach Press Telegram. Here's another awesome article in The Vancouver Sun. Be sure to check him out tonight in the 1000m race, airing on NBC (still need to confirm the air time). It's been really awesome following him on this adventure! He's been featured on commercials for 24 Hour Fitness, McDonalds, and even made an appearance on a recent episode of The Biggest Loser. Congratulations!

*I can't tell you how incredibly sad I was for the young luge athlete, Nodar Kumaritashvili, that lost his life on a training run. I was especially disturbed by the media coverage of his death! I was in Sugar Land, Texas on the day of his death and the Houston news was replaying the footage in slo-mo. It was horrible and broke my heart for him and his family. Is nothing sacred?