Polish Speed Skater Kamila Sellier Undergoes Facial Surgery After Olympic Crash
Polish speed skater Kamila Sellier has undergone surgery following a severe facial injury sustained during a crash at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The accident took place in the quarter-finals of the women's 1500m event, involving a multi-skater collision.
Details of the Incident
The crash occurred when Sellier fell alongside Italian veteran Ariana Fontana and American skater Kristen Santos-Griswold. As Santos-Griswold went down, her skate blade struck Sellier beneath the left eye, causing a deep laceration. Medical staff immediately halted the race and attended to Sellier behind a protective screen on the ice.
She was later stretchered from the rink but managed to give a thumbs-up gesture to spectators as she exited, showing resilience despite the injury.
Medical Response and Surgery
Polish team officials confirmed that Sellier's eye did not sustain immediate visible damage. She received initial stitches at the venue before being transferred to a hospital for further examinations and surgical intervention.
A spokesperson for the Polish team told the BBC that the surgery was performed to repair bone damage and clean the wound. Additional tests were scheduled to assess eye movement and rule out any internal injuries.
Condition and Reactions
Polish Olympic Committee president Konrad Niedzwiecki reported that Sellier experienced swelling after the operation but was in stable condition. From the hospital, Sellier posted a message thanking supporters and reassuring fans that she was "doing quite okay," adding that the experience reminded her of her own strength.
Teammate Natalia Maliszewska expressed being shaken by the incident, describing it as difficult to process. Fellow Polish skater Gabriela Topolska noted that while such accidents are rare, blade-related injuries can occur in short track racing due to the high-speed nature of the sport.
Impact on the Competition
The final of the women's 1500m event proceeded later in the session, with Dutch skater Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong winning the gold medal. She was followed by Norway's Ragne Wiklund and Canada's Valerie Maltais on the podium.
Sellier's recovery timeline will now determine whether she can compete again during the remainder of the Winter Games. The incident has highlighted the risks associated with speed skating and the importance of safety measures in Olympic sports.
