Serious Injury in Short Track Speed Skating
Polish short track speed skater Kamila Sellier underwent surgery after sustaining a facial injury during a crash at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
The incident occurred during the quarter-finals of the women's 1500m event on the final night of short track competition at the Milano Ice Skating Arena.
Sellier was involved in a collision with 14-time Olympic medallist Arianna Fontana of Italy and American competitor Kristen Santos-Griswold. Santos-Griswold was penalised for an illegal passing attempt that contributed to the crash.
As Santos-Griswold fell, her skate blade struck Sellier beneath her left eye, causing a significant injury.
Competition was temporarily halted as Sellier received medical attention behind a white privacy sheet. She was then stretchered off the ice, giving a thumbs up to the audience as she departed.
Medical Response and Condition
Polish team officials reported that Sellier received stitches at the arena before being transported to a hospital for surgery.
"Kamila had surgery last night. She's in good condition. We're waiting for further tests today, to check her eye for any signs of damage," a spokesperson for the Polish team told on Saturday morning.
Impact on Other Competitors
During the incident, Fontana's skinsuit was damaged, and she required assistance from her physiotherapist for her left hip during the pause in racing. Despite this, she advanced to the final, finishing fifth and missing out on a third medal at her home Games.
The 35-year-old Fontana was aiming to equal Norwegian cross-country skier Marit Bjorgen as the most decorated Winter Olympian.
Additional Information and Coverage
For further details, viewers can access two live streams and highlights on BBC (UK only), updates on BBC Radio 5 Live, and live text commentary and video highlights on the website and app.
Additional resources include a day-by-day guide to the Winter Olympics, the full schedule including medal event times, and the Winter Olympics 2026 medal table.
