Winter Olympics: Polish speedskater Kamila Sellier in hospital after opponent's blade slices her face

Short-track speedskater Kamila Sellier of Poland was immobilized on a stretcher and wheeled out of the Milano Ice Skating Arena on Friday night after a competitor's blade sliced her above her left eye during the women's 1500 metres at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Sellier went down along with 15-time Olympic medallist Ariana Fontana of Italy and American skater Kristen Santos-Griswold, who was penalised for an illegal lane pass that contributed to the accident. That kept her from advancing through the quarterfinal round.

The race was paused while Sellier received attention, a large white sheet blocking her from the crowd that was packed into the arena to see the final night of short-track speedskating. She eventually gave a thumbs-up to the crowd as she was taken away, leaving a trail of blood in the final corner of the track that workers had to clean up during the break.

Polish officials said Sellier's eye was OK. She received stitches at the arena before going to the hospital for more tests.

Medics attend to Kamila Sellier of Poland after her fall. Photos: Associated Press

Fontana's skinsuit was nicked up and she received some help from her physiotherapist on her left hip during the pause. She wound up finishing second to Hanne Desmet of Belgium, sending her through to the semifinal round.

She later advanced into the finals, narrowly edging Zhang Chutong at the finishing line.

Fontana, the reigning Olympic silver medallist in the 1500, was trying to move into a tie with Norwegian cross-country skier Marit Bjørgen as the most decorated Winter Olympian. Fontana won gold in the 2000-metre mixed relay and silver in the 500 metres and 3,000-metre relay earlier in the Milan Cortina Games.

Associated Press