Polish Speed Skater Hospitalised After Blade Collision at Milano Cortina Olympics
Polish short-track speed skater Kamila Sellier suffered a distressing injury during the women's 1500m quarter-finals on Friday night at the Milano Ice Skating Arena. The incident occurred when a competitor's blade sliced the area above Sellier's left eye, leading to her being immobilised on a stretcher and wheeled from the track.
Chaotic Collision Involving Multiple Skaters
The collision involved three athletes: Sellier, 14-time Olympic medalist Arianna Fontana of Italy, and American skater Kristen Santos-Griswold. Race officials penalised Santos-Griswold for an illegal lane pass that contributed to the accident, which prevented her from advancing through the quarter-final round.
The race was immediately paused as medical staff attended to Sellier, with a large white sheet used to shield her from the packed arena crowd. Despite the severity of the incident, Sellier managed to give a thumbs-up gesture to spectators as she was transported away, leaving visible blood on the track's final corner that required cleaning during the break.
Medical Response and Official Updates
Polish team officials confirmed that Sellier's eye was not damaged in the incident. She received initial stitches at the arena before being transferred to a hospital for further examination and tests. The precise number of stitches required and the extent of her recovery timeline remain undisclosed.
Meanwhile, Fontana's racing skinsuit sustained damage during the collision, and she received treatment from her physiotherapist for a left hip issue during the pause. Remarkably, Fontana recovered to finish second in her heat behind Belgium's Hanne Desmet, securing advancement to the semi-final round.
Fontana's Continued Olympic Campaign
Arianna Fontana, the reigning Olympic silver medalist in the 1500m event, later progressed to the finals by narrowly defeating Zhang Chutong at the finishing line. Fontana entered these Games with an opportunity to equal Norwegian cross-country skier Marit Bjørgen's record as the most decorated Winter Olympian in history.
Earlier in the Milano Cortina Olympics, Fontana had already claimed gold in the 2000m mixed relay event, along with silver medals in both the 500m individual and 3000m relay competitions. Her performance continues to be closely watched by Olympic historians and skating enthusiasts alike.
The incident has raised renewed discussions about safety protocols in short-track speed skating, where high-speed collisions are an inherent risk due to the sport's tight corners and competitive passing maneuvers. Olympic organisers have not indicated any changes to competition schedules or procedures following Friday's events.
