Polish short track speed skater Kamila Sellier is recovering after undergoing surgery to treat facial injuries from a serious crash during the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
The incident occurred during the women’s 1500m quarter-finals on the final night of short track competition. Sellier was involved in a multi-skater collision that also included 14-time Olympic medallist Arianna Fontana of Italy and American Kristen Santos-Griswold, who was penalized for an illegal pass that contributed to the accident.
As Santos-Griswold fell, her skate struck Sellier under her left eye, causing a deep cut. Racing was paused at the Milano Ice Skating Arena while Sellier received immediate medical attention behind a privacy screen. She was then stretchered off the ice, giving a thumbs-up to the crowd as she was removed.
Polish officials confirmed that Sellier received stitches at the arena before being transported to hospital for further 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.”
A spokesperson for the Polish team added that Sellier is in good condition, with further tests planned to assess any potential damage to her eye.
Fontana, who was also involved in the crash, had her skinsuit nicked and received physiotherapy assistance for a minor hip injury. She advanced to the final but finished fifth, narrowly missing out on a third medal at her home Games. The 35-year-old Italian had been aiming to surpass Norwegian skier Marit Bjorgen as the most decorated Winter Olympian.
