Polish short-track speedskater Kamila Sellier was left covered in blood on Friday night after a rival’s blade sliced her above her left eye during the women’s 1500m at the Milan Cortina Olympics.
In a terrifying incident at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, Sellier went down along with 15-time Olympic medalist Ariana Fontana of Italy and American skater Kristen Santos-Griswold.
The race was paused as medics rushed on to the ice to treat Sellier, with a large white sheet blocking her from the view of fans who had packed into the arena to see the final night of short-track speedskating.
The Polish athlete was soon put on a stretcher and wheeled out of the arena. She gave a thumbs-up to the crowd as she was taken away, leaving a trail of blood in the final corner of the track that workers had to clean up during the break.
Polish officials later confirmed that Sellier’s eye was OK, with every speed skater wearing goggles to protect against serious harm. She received stitches at the arena before going to the hospital for more tests.
Sellier underwent surgery in hospital after it was revealed she had suffered a fractured bone in the incident.
WARNING: THE BELOW VIDEO CONTAINS GRAPHIC CONTENT
‘Kamila underwent surgery to repair the damaged bone, everything was cleaned,’ Polish Olympic Committee president Konrad Niedzwiecki told Eurosport.
‘She woke up this morning with significant swelling, she didn’t sleep much last night.
‘According to what the head of the medical mission, Dr. Hubert Krysztofiak, told me this evening, she will undergo eye movement tests today.
‘Yesterday, the eye passed the first tests, and that was the most important thing for us.’
Santos-Griswold, meanwhile, was penalized for an illegal lane pass that contributed to the accident. That kept her from advancing through the quarterfinal round.
Fontana’s skinsuit was nicked up and she received some help from her physiotherapist on her left hip during the pause.
She wound up finishing second to Hanne Desmet of Belgium, sending her through to the semifinal round.
The Italian later advanced into the finals, narrowly edging Zhang Chutong at the finishing line.
Fontana, the reigning Olympic silver medalist in the 1500m, was trying to move into a tie with Norwegian cross-country skier Marit Bjorgen as the most decorated Winter Olympian.
Earlier in the Milan Cortina Games, Fontana won gold in the 2000m mixed relay and silver in the 500m and 3000m relay. |