US short track speed skater Kristen Santos-Griswold received a penalty on Friday, after her illegal lane pass contributed to a frightening collision during the 1,500-meter women’s short track event.

The incident led to Poland’s Kamila Sellier being stretchered off the ice after a competitor’s blade sliced her above the left eye. Italy’s 15-time Olympic medalist Ariana Fontana also went down in the crash.

31-year-old Santos-Griswold was subsequently disqualified from advancing to the Olympic short track semifinal, despite her quarterfinal efforts.

Illegal Kristen Santos-Griswold pass spurs short track pile-up

Race officials paused the competition while medical personnel attended to Sellier. A large white sheet blocked the injured skater from the packed arena crowd during treatment. Sellier eventually flashed a thumbs-up to spectators as workers wheeled her out, the ice stained red with blood where she fell.

Polish officials confirmed Sellier received stitches at the arena before heading to the hospital for additional tests.

Fontana’s skinsuit sustained damage in the collision, and she received treatment from her physiotherapist during the pause. Despite the crash, Fontana finished second to Belgium’s Hanne Desmet and advanced to the semifinal round.

Fontana later reached the finals by narrowly beating China’s Chutong Zhang to the finish line, preventing the reigning 1,500-meter silver medalist from tying Norwegian cross-country skier Marit Bjørgen as the world’s most decorated Winter Olympian.

The penalty marked a disappointing end to Santos-Griswold’s 2026 Olympic campaign, after the US speed skating star failed to reach the podium over the course of two Winter Games.