It was a very bittersweet weekend for Federal Way short track speedskater J.R. Celski.

The 19-year-old accomplished his lifelong dream of qualifying for the Winter Olympics by finishing second in the overall standings behind former Federal Way resident Apolo Ohno at the U.S. Short Track Speedskating Championships in Marquette, Mich.

Celski earned enough points to make the U.S. team after winning the 1,500-meter final on Sept. 9 in Michigan. Celski easily outdistanced Ohno in the race.

“I think about (the Olympics) everyday in my life,” Celski told the Mirror earlier this year. “Just the thought of being there at the biggest sporting event in the history of the world is pretty exciting.”

But the celebration was short-lived.

During semifinals of the 500 meters on Sept. 12, Celski fell and hit the boards coming out of a turn and bounced off. According to reports, the first few inches of his right skate blade sliced into his left leg, above his knee, spilling blood on the ice.

Celski yelled as emergency personnel rushed onto the ice and applied pressure to try and stop the heavy blood flow. The race was stopped while he was tended to for several minutes before being removed on a stretcher and taken to a hospital.

U.S. Speedskating president Brad Goskowicz said Celski underwent immediate surgery at Marquette General Hospital clean out and close the 6-inch gash.

According to the reports, prospects look great for Celski to make a fast recovery and resume training for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.

“J.R. is on the mends and his recovery process is going well,” said Sue Celski, J.R.’s mother. “We are so excited for and proud of J.R. His dream is still alive and that in itself is quite the story. He’s almost there and the fire within is even stronger.”

U.S. Speedskating spokeswoman Peri Kinder said Celski was set to meet with Dr. Eric Heiden earlier this week to develop a rehabilitation program.

Celski returned to Salt Lake City, where he trains with the national team, on Tuesday from Michigan.

Heiden became an orthopedic surgeon after winning five gold medals in long track speedskating at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.

“They seem very optimistic that he’ll have a fast recovery,” Kinder said in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

Bob Crowley, U.S. Speedskating executive director, said he spoke to Celski’s family at the hospital where the skater had surgery.

“They’re very optimistic for a full recovery,” Crowley said. “They’re hoping to have him back on a bike in three weeks to continue training for the Olympic Games.”

Ohno, like Celski, started skating at Pattison’s West in Federal Way as a youngster. The 27-year-old Seattle resident qualified for his third Winter Games after winning the 500 and 1,000 meters in Michigan.

According to the Associated Press, Ohno texted with Celski after the crash.

“He sounded like he was OK and in good spirits,” Ohno said. “I’ve heard it’s not as bad as it looked on the ice. He’s one of our guys, he’s skating amazing. I’m sure J.R. will be back very soon. He’s a strong kid.”

Ohno is currently in Beijing, China, participating in the first of four World Cup events. Celski would have made the trip along with the other U.S. Olympic team members.