Polish short track speed skater Kamila Sellier is recovering after undergoing surgery for a severe facial cut sustained during a crash at the Winter Olympics on Friday. The 25-year-old was involved in a multi-skater collision in the quarter-finals of the women's 500m event at the Milano Ice Skating Arena.
Sellier went down alongside Italy's 14-time Olympic medalist Arianna Fontana and American skater Kristen Santos-Griswold, who was penalized for an illegal lane pass that contributed to the incident. The crash ended Sellier's competition and required lengthy on-ice treatment, with medical staff shielding her from view using a white sheet. She was eventually stretchered off, giving a thumbs up to the crowd while leaving a trail of blood that workers cleaned up during the break.
In an Instagram post on Saturday, Sellier shared a photo from a hospital bed, cropping out the right side of her face where the injury occurred. She wrote, “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 okay.”
A Polish team spokesperson told BBC Sport on Saturday, “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.” The spokesperson added that doctors are monitoring her recovery closely.
The crash also affected the medal race, with South Korea’s Kim Gil-li winning gold. Fontana finished fifth, missing the chance to equal a Winter Olympics record for career medals. Santos-Griswold was eliminated in the quarter-finals due to the penalty.
