Polish speedskater leaves race on stretcher after skate blade injury to face Photo

Polish short-track speed skater Kamila Sellier was forced to withdraw from the sixth quarterfinal of the women’s 1500 meters after a frightening accident on the ice left her with a deep cut under her left eye.

The 25-year-old fell during a tangled moment with American skater Kristen Santos-Griswold and Italy’s 15-time Olympic medalist Arian Fontana, when Santos-Griswold’s blade struck Sellier’s face. Sellier remained on the ice for several tense moments, cradling her head as a pool of blood formed beneath her, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media. 

Race officials paused the event with 13 laps remaining as medics attended to Sellier and attendants cleared the ice. She was eventually taken off the ice on a stretcher, giving the crowd a reassuring thumbs-up. Polish officials confirmed that she received stitches before being transported to a hospital and that her eye was not seriously injured.

Fontana also required attention for a left-hip injury from her physiotherapist during the stoppage but was able to finish second in the heat behind Belgium’s Hanne Desmet.

By Sabina Mammadli