From left, short track speed skaters Lee So-yeon, Kim Gi-li and Choi Min-jeong train at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan, Wednesday (local time). Yonhap

MILAN — After getting into what looked to be a devastating on-ice crash Tuesday during the Milan-Cortina Winter Games, short track speed skater Kim Gil-li looked no worse for wear the following morning.

Other than a small bruise on her right elbow, Kim said she was feeling too great to be drawing any concerns or sympathy from others.

"Honestly, I am a little embarrassed to talk about this. It's really nothing. I don't think people should worry about me," Kim said with a smile after a training session at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Wednesday. She then pulled up the right sleeve of her tracksuit to show a small bandage on her right elbow.

Short track speed skater Kim Gil-li shows a small bandage on her right elbow to reporters after a training session at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Wednesday (local time). Yonhap

Some 24 hours earlier, Kim had run into Corinne Stoddard of the United States during the semifinals of the mixed team relay event. As the American skater lost her balance, fell to the ice and skidded toward the fence to her right, Kim got tripped up and fell on top of Stoddard, landing hard on her right arm.

"The moment it happened, it was such a shock, and I was afraid I might have broken something," Kim said. "But as timed passed by, I started feeling better. I was surprised how completely normal I felt later. I went for some tests, but I just ended up getting some treatment and taking some medication."

The collision was essentially short track speed skating in a nutshell, something that happened so fast Kim barely had time to react.

"We had some ground to make up, and I was just building up my speed," Kim said. "And after Corinne made the turn, I saw how she was struggling to maintain her balance. But I was already going too fast at that moment and couldn't get around her."

Immediately after the crash, Kim still had the presence of mind to extend her right arm to touch teammate Choi Min-jeong for an exchange, trying to keep South Korea in the race.

Source: Korea Times News