Meet J.R. Celski at City Council reception on May 18

Now’s your chance to see the Olympic hardware and meet J.R. Celski, Federal Way’s own Olympic athlete who took home two bronze medals in short track speed skating in Vancouver earlier this year.

The City of Federal Way will honor Celski at its Tuesday, May 18 City Council meeting, held at City Hall in Council Chambers, 33325 8th Ave. S. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. where Mayor Linda Kochmar will officially proclaim May 18 as “J.R. Celski Day in Federal Way,” then the meeting will adjourn for a 20-minute reception.

The public is invited and light refreshments will be served.

The Celski family will have photos and memorabilia spanning J.R.’s career on display.

Celski and his mother and father, Sue and Bob Celski will be on hand in the Hylebos Room, next door to Council Chambers, for a pre-reception starting at 6 p.m. The public is invited to attend this event as well.

Celski has just returned from Sofia, Bulgaria, the scene of the 2010 World Short Track Speed Skating Championship, where he placed fourth in the overall standings. He finished third in the 1,000 and 3,000 meter events and he was a member of the US team that took silver in the 5,000-meter relay.

The 19-year-old Celski, who now lives full-time in Salt Lake City, is home for the summer. He heads off to UC Berkeley in the fall where he hopes to study business.