Winter Olympics Star Kamila Sellier Endures Terrifying Facial Injury in Speed Skating Collision
Polish athlete Kamila Sellier faced a harrowing incident during the women's 1500m short track speed skating quarter-finals at the Winter Olympics on Friday, sustaining a severe facial injury that necessitated urgent medical intervention. The alarming accident occurred when Sellier, alongside Italian competitor Ariana Fontana and American skater Kristen Santos-Griswold, became entangled in a dramatic collision, sending all three athletes crashing onto the ice.
Immediate Medical Response and Stretcher Evacuation
As the skaters tumbled, Santos-Griswold's skate blade made direct contact with Sellier's face, inflicting a significant cut that prompted an immediate halt to the race. Rink-side medics swiftly attended to the injured Polish competitor, who had slid across the ice and collided with the rink wall. To preserve her privacy, officials erected a large white sheet around the scene before carefully stretchering Sellier off the ice, with the athlete offering a reassuring thumbs-up to the concerned crowd as she departed.
Official Updates and Team Reactions
Konrad Niedźwiedzki, press attache for the Polish speed skating team and a former Olympian, confirmed that Sellier suffered lacerations on her cheek and eyelid, requiring stitches at the arena. "We are awaiting further results from hospital tests," Niedźwiedzki stated, highlighting the ongoing medical evaluation. Sellier's teammates expressed profound distress, with Natalia Maliszewska remarking, "My thoughts are entirely with her; I cannot focus on anything else." Gabriela Topolska added, "While such accidents are uncommon, they do occur. Kamila has sustained a cut requiring stitches on her face."
Race Aftermath and Disqualification
Following an injury timeout, the race resumed with American skater Santos-Griswold being disqualified for an illegal lane pass that contributed to the collision. Italian star Fontana, whose skinsuit was damaged and who received physiotherapy for her left hip during the pause, managed to secure second place behind Belgium's Hanne Desmet, advancing to the semi-finals. Fontana later progressed to the finals, narrowly defeating Zhang Chutong in her pursuit to equal Norwegian cross-country skier Marit Bjørgen's record as the most decorated Winter Olympian.
The incident underscores the inherent risks in high-speed winter sports, with Sellier's condition remaining under close medical supervision as she recovers from this traumatic event at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
