Incident at the Women’s 1500 Meters
During the Women’s 1500 meters event at the Milano Ice Skating Arena on Friday evening, Polish short-track speedskater Kamila Sellier faced a serious incident when a fellow competitor’s blade caused a deep cut above her left eye. The unfortunate collision also involved Ariana Fontana of Italy, a seasoned Olympian with 15 medals, and American competitor Kristen Santos-Griswold, whose illegal maneuver contributed to the chaos that unfolded.
Medical Response and Aftermath
As medical staff tended to Sellier, the race was temporarily halted, obscuring the scene from the audience with a large white sheet. The crowd, undoubtedly anxious, responded with a cheer as Sellier was wheeled away on a stretcher, signaling her well-being with a thumbs-up gesture before departing.
In the aftermath, the arena workers had to address the visible blood left on the ice, a stark reminder of the incident. Fontana, while sustaining a few scrapes on her skinsuit, received medical assistance for a hip issue that arose during the race pause, yet she managed to secure a spot in the semifinals after finishing second to Hanne Desmet from Belgium.
Fontana’s Olympic Aspirations
This event is particularly significant for Fontana, who is striving to surpass multiple Olympic legends by breaking a tie with Norwegian cross-country skier Marit Bjørgen—the two share the record for the most Winter Olympic medals at 15. Fontana’s accolades include a gold in the 2000 meter mixed relay, along with silver medals in both the 500 meters and 3000 meters relay at the ongoing Milan Cortina Games, further adding to the drama of this Olympic competition.
