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Tuesday, February 10, 1998 Speed skater dislocates shoulderNAGANO, Japan (AP) -- Dutch speed skater Erben Wennemars suffered a dislocated left shoulder today after another skater crashed into him coming off the final turn in the 500-metre Olympic race.Grunde Njos of Norway lost his balance as he surged past Wennemars and slid under the feet of the Dutchman. Wennemars flipped into the padding, his upper left arm smashing into the ice beneath the wall. Wennemars, tied for fifth after the first day of 500 competition, grabbed his elbow and screamed. His skates were removed and he was taken off on a stretcher, with medical personnel holding his left arm straight. Gerard Kemkers, a Dutchman who coaches the U.S. all-round team, said he was told that Wennemars suffered a dislocated shoulder and was taken to a hospital in case he had other injuries. Wennemars was scheduled to skate the 1,000 and 1,500 events, but it wasn't immediately known if he would be able to race again at the Olympics. "I wouldn't count him out," Kemkers said. "He's a real tough cookie." |