The Catalan skater Nil Llop, hospitalized in serious condition in the Netherlands

BarcelonaThe 23-year-old Catalan speed skater Nil Llop is hospitalized in the Netherlands after suffering "a severe inflammation of the spinal cord caused by an infection," as reported by the Spanish Ice Sports Federation. The athlete from Baix Llobregat, who in February 2026 became the first national ice skater to qualify for a Winter Olympic Games, was in the Netherlands preparing for the upcoming season with his new professional team, Team X²O Badkamers, the federation adds.

"Medical treatment began immediately and is achieving positive results, showing signs of improvement in recent days. On the other hand, the expectation is that the rehabilitation process will be intense and of a duration yet to be determined," says the federation's statement, adding that it is expected that "he will be transferred in the coming hours to a specialized hospital in Spain where he can continue his recovery close to his loved ones."

Llop, who played football as a child, initially stood out in roller speed skating, and reached the World Championships at 16. But he would make the leap to ice rinks when Sandra Gómez, a roller skating coach, presented a project to the Spanish Ice Sports Federation to promote ice skating when there was the possibility of bringing a Winter Games to the Pyrenees in 2030. The Games did not go ahead, but the project to train skaters did. Skaters who live half the year abroad, since there are no homologated ice speed skating rinks in Spain. At 23, the skater from El Prat de Llobregat participated in the Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo Games in two different events, the 1,000 and 500 meters. His good work has allowed him to sign for a professional team in the Netherlands, the country where speed skating has the most strength.