During the quarterfinal 1500-meter short track race at the Winter Olympic Games in Milan, a dramatic incident involving Kamila Sellier occurred. The Polish representative fell after contact with rivals and was then struck in the face by the skate of American Kristen Santos-Griswold. The athlete, with a visible laceration on her cheek and around her eye, was carried off the ice on a stretcher and immediately transported to a hospital for diagnostics.

Serious Facial Injury

Sellier was struck by a skate blade on the cheek and near the eye; doctors had to stitch the wounds immediately after the incident.

Suspected Fracture

There is a high probability of a fractured zygomatic bone; the athlete is undergoing detailed diagnostic tests at the hospital.

Athlete's Condition

The Pole is conscious and remains under the care of the medical team; her eyesight was not damaged despite the proximity of the blade.

Race Disqualification

Regardless of the injury, the judges imposed a disqualification penalty on the Pole for improper overtaking just before the fall.

During Friday's competition in short track over the 1500-meter distance, Polish fans experienced moments of terror. Kamila Sellier, competing in the last quarterfinal race, was fighting to advance to the next phase of the tournament. On one of the turns, a collision involving several athletes occurred, causing the Pole to fall onto the ice. In the chaos accompanying the crash, the blade of American Kristen Santos-Griswold's skate hit Sellier directly in the face, causing deep lacerations. Medical services reacted instantly, and the competition was briefly halted. Konrad Niedźwiedzki, head of the Polish Olympic mission, informed that the athlete regained consciousness before leaving the arena, which she signaled with a raised thumb. Initial examinations revealed a cut on the cheek and eyelid, as well as a suspected fracture of the zygomatic bone. However, the team's doctors reassure that the athlete's eyesight does not appear to be threatened, although the swelling around the eye is very severe. Incidents involving skate blade injuries are among the most dangerous in short track due to speeds reaching 50 km/h and the extremely sharp edges of the blades. For athlete safety, since 2003, blades have been mandatorily covered with special cut-resistant suits, but the face remains partially exposed. For Kamila Sellier, this is not the first such incident in her career – the athlete already bears a scar from a similar accident eight years ago. Sellier's drama capped an unfortunate evening for Polish speed skating, as earlier Natalia Maliszewska and Gabriela Topolska were eliminated from the competition. The Pole's situation was further complicated by the judges' decision to disqualify her for a prior overtaking maneuver. Currently, the athlete is in a Roman clinic, where she is undergoing additional imaging tests. „The cheek is cut and was immediately stitched. The zygomatic bone is also most likely damaged, possibly fractured, because there is significant swelling.” — Konrad Niedźwiedzki This was not the only dramatic event of the day at the Games. In freestyle skiing, world champion Finley Melville Ives suffered a heavy fall, and biathlete Tommaso Giacomel had to withdraw from the mass start due to sudden breathing problems. The Polish delegation remains in constant contact with the doctors overseeing Sellier's health.

Mentioned People

  • Kamila Sellier — Polish short track representative who suffered the accident.
  • Konrad Niedźwiedzki — Head of the Polish Olympic mission in Milan.
  • Natalia Maliszewska — Top Polish short track athlete, teammate from the national team.
  • Kristen Santos-Griswold — American speed skater involved in the collision.