A Winter Olympic speed skater sustained a gruesome injury before being taken to hospital for surgery after competing at Milan-Cortina on Friday (20 February).
Polish speed skater Kamila Sellier was competing in the women’s 1500m quarter-finals at the Winter Games when one of her opponent’s blades sliced just above the athlete’s left eye.
The 25-year-old two-time world championship medallist collided with Italy’s 15-time Olympic medallist Arianna Fontana and America’s Kristen Santos-Griswold, with the latter later receiving a penalty for an illegal lane pass, which caused the accident.
Santos-Griswold was not permitted to progress further than the quarter-finals as a result. The race was temporarily halted while Sellier received medical treatment, while spectators’ view was blocked by a white sheet.
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While being stretchered off the track, the Pole raised her thumb, leaving a trail of blood in the corner where the accident had occurred, which later had to be cleaned during the break.
Sellier’s team-mate, Natalia Maliszewska, told reporters that her thoughts were with her compatriot and explained how she couldn’t think of “anything else” following the incident.
Meanwhile, Sellier’s other team-mate, Gabriela Topolska, added: “These aren't common accidents, but they do happen.
“Kamila already has one of them, from a skate on her face. Kamila has a cut in her skin with stitches.”
Polish officials later confirmed that Sellier had received stitches at the venue before being transported to hospital for further tests.
"Kamila had surgery last night," Polish officials told BBC Sport on Saturday (21 February).
"She's in good condition. We're waiting for further tests today, to check her eye for any signs of damage."
Fontana, who was also involved in the crash, continued competing and eventually finished second behind Belgium’s Hanne Desmet, meaning she secured a spot in the semi-finals.
The Italian, who had already secured gold in the 2000-metre mixed relay and silver in the 500 metres and 3000-metre relay earlier in the Games, went on to finish fifth in the final behind South Korea’s Kim Gilli and Choi Minjeong, while USA’s Corinne Stoddard secured bronze.
China’s Yang Jingru finished fourth ahead of Fontana in fifth, who remains Italy’s most decorated Olympian.
The ‘Blonde Angel’ has competed in two home Games – first in Turin in 2006, as well as Milan-Cortina. The 31-year-old has competed at a total of six Olympics – in Turin, Vancouver, Sochi, PyeongChang, Beijing and Milan-Cortina.
Luke Davies