Kristen Santos-Griswold, of Fairfield, penalized and disqualified from speed skating semifinals
Fairfield’s Kristen Santos-Griswold’s semifinal race was cut short after she fell and her blade appeared to hit another skater’s face.
She was in fourth place about halfway through the women’s short-track speed skating 1500-meter semifinal race when she, Italy’s Arianna Fontana, and Poland’s Kamila Sellier fell. Santos-Griswold slid and her skate looked like it hit Sellier in the face.
Officials had to stop the race because Sellier could not get up, and there was blood on the ice.
After review, officials decided to give Santos-Griswold a penalty, meaning she could not participate in the re-run. She was penalized for an illegal lane pass that contributed to the accident.
She looked upset and confused as she put her blade guards on and stepped off the ice. Officials did not provide any more details on her disqualification.
Sellier gave a thumbs-up as she was wheeled out on a stretcher.
Korea’s Kim Gilli got first place, Fontana got second, and China’s Chutong Zhang got third in Santos-Griswold’s heat.
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