At a walk-in clinic here in the athletes' hotel, the staff on Friday was treating everything from splinters to tendinitis. Although there were few major problems during the race, the clinic was bustling. The medical team saw a lot of blisters, as they had during the race. But the treatment differed. Dead skin left on a blister acts as natural protection for the new skin.
Petroleum jelly keeps the blister moist to help prevent further irritation.
Post-race, the blisters are opened and drained. The top skin is sometimes removed, and then the area is taped. Some athletes received antibiotics for infections. But the goriest injury of the day belonged to Florencia Gorchs of Team Argentina. The tip of her index finger had been crushed by a rock on the course, and her finger was distended.