A short-track speed skater from Poland was hospitalized after a blade struck her above the left eye during the women’s 1500m at the Milano Cortina Olympic venue. Kamila Sellier, immobilized on a stretcher, was carried out of the Milano Ice Skating Arena on Friday night as spectators watched. The incident involved a collision that also sent 14-time Olympic medalist Arianna Fontana of Italy and American skater Kristen Santos-Griswold to the ice; Santos-Griswold was penalized for an illegal lane change that contributed to the crash. Because of the accident, the race was halted while Sellier received medical attention, and a white sheet obscured the moment from the crowd gathered for the event’s final night of short-track competition. Sellier later flashed a thumbs-up as she was wheeled away, leaving a trail of blood on the innermost bend of the track that staff had to rinse during the break.
Polish officials indicated that Sellier’s eye appeared to be fine and she underwent stitches at the arena before being transported to a hospital for further testing.
Fontana’s skin suit sustained minor damage, and she received assistance from a physiotherapist for a sore left hip during the stoppage. She ultimately finished second to Hanne Desmet of Belgium, advancing to the semi-finals.
Fontana continued to the finals, where she narrowly beat Zhang Chutong at the line.
Fontana, the current Olympic silver medalist in the 1500m, was pursuing a record-tying milestone with Norway’s cross-country legend Marit Bjørgen as the most decorated Winter Olympian. Earlier in the Milano Cortina Games, Fontana claimed gold in the 2000m mixed relay and silver in both the 500m and 3000m relays.
