JR Celski Places Fourth In Disappointing 1,500-Meter Race

J.R. Celski, failed to earn a gold medal in the 1,500 meter short-track speedskating event Monday, Feb. 10.

Celski, 23, a speedskater who specializes in short-track races, won a bronze medal in the 1,500, and another bronze in the 5,000-meter relay, at the Vancouver Olympics in 2010. He was the only American to make it this far in the short-track race, and was considered a favorite to medal, if not to take the gold.

He believes his narrow loss on Monday is due to bad luck and a poor strategy – he slowed down after gaining a lead, and ended up in third place before losing momentum and coming in forth.

“I got a little unlucky. But last time I benefited and won the bronze because of some falls. Sometimes you’re on the good side of it, sometimes the bad,” Celski said.

Charles Hamelin, 29, won gold in the 1,500 meter with China’s Han Tianyu placing second and Russia’s Victor An collecting the bronze.

Celski still has a few races left at the Sochi Olympics, and hopes that they will provide him with the chance to reclaim a top spot and earn another Olympic medal. Celski will be competing in the 1,000-meter finals Saturday, Feb. 15, and in the 500-meter race and the 5,000-meter relay on Friday, Feb. 21.

– Olivia Truffaut-Wong

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