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Polish skater injured in short track crash
Kamila Sellier, a Polish short track speed skater, required surgery after suffering facial injuries during a quarter-final race at the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina on Friday.
Incident details
Sellier was competing in the women's 1500m quarter-finals when a collision occurred involving Italy's Arianna Fontana and American Kristen Santos-Griswold. Santos-Griswold was penalized for an illegal pass that contributed to the crash.
As the skaters fell, Santos-Griswold's blade struck Sellier in the face, cutting her below the left eye. The race was halted while medical staff attended to Sellier behind a privacy screen at the Milano Ice Skating Arena. She was later stretchered off the ice, giving a thumbs-up to spectators as she left.
Medical update
Polish team officials confirmed Sellier received stitches at the venue before being transported to a hospital for surgery. In an Instagram post, Sellier shared a selfie from her hospital bed, writing, "I know that one day I'll look at this picture and remember that I'm stronger than I ever believed."
"Thank you for all your words of support, just wanted to let you know that I'm doing quite OK."
Kamila Sellier, Instagram
A Polish team spokesperson told BBC Sport on Saturday that Sellier underwent surgery the previous night and remains in stable condition. Further tests are scheduled to assess potential damage to her eye.
Impact on competitors
Fontana, a 14-time Olympic medalist, sustained minor damage to her skinsuit and received treatment for a hip injury during the pause. She advanced to the final but finished fifth, missing an opportunity to tie Norway's Marit Bjørgen as the most decorated Winter Olympian.
Event context
The incident occurred on the final night of short track competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics, held from February 6 to 22 in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. Coverage is available on BBC platforms for UK audiences.
