It was a frightening scene on the ice Friday when Polish speed skater Kamila Sellier was carried out on a stretcher after a brutal collision during the women’s 1500-meter short-track quarterfinals.
The crash unfolded when American skater Kristen Santos-Griswold attempted to pass Sellier and Italian legend Arianna Fontana with what officials later ruled was an illegal lane shift. The move sent both competitors tumbling at high speed.
In the chaos, Santos-Griswold’s skate blade struck Sellier in the face, cutting her just beneath her left eye.
The 25-year-old slammed into the barrier, and the race was immediately stopped as medical teams rushed onto the ice. Blood was visible on the track as medics worked quickly to stabilize her.
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Polish officials later confirmed that Sellier’s eye appears to be OK, crediting the protective goggles she was wearing for preventing even more serious damage. She received stitches and was transported to a hospital for further testing.
Despite the scary moment, Sellier gave the crowd a reassuring thumbs-up as she was taken off the ice — though she left behind a chilling reminder of the crash in the form of a pool of blood on the rink.
Santos-Griswold was penalized for the illegal maneuver and did not advance in the competition.
In the finals, South Korea’s Kim Gil-li captured gold, Choi Min-jeong took silver and American Corinne Stoddard secured bronze.