Polish Speed Skater Hospitalized After Gruesome Face Injury at Winter Olympics
Polish speed skater Kamila Sellier has undergone emergency surgery following a horrific accident at the Winter Olympics, where her face was sliced open by a rival's blade during a quarter-final race. The bloody incident occurred during the women's 1500m short track event, sending shockwaves through the Olympic community.
Chaotic Crash Leaves Trail of Blood on Ice
The accident unfolded during the quarter-finals when Sellier went down alongside 15-time Olympic medalist Ariana Fontana of Italy and American skater Kristen Santos-Griswold. As Santos-Griswold fell, her skate caught Sellier directly under her left eye, creating a deep laceration that immediately began bleeding profusely.
The race was immediately paused as medical personnel rushed to the scene. Medics attended to Sellier behind a white sheet for privacy before eventually wheeling her out of the arena on a stretcher. Despite the severity of her injury, the Polish athlete managed to give a thumbs-up to concerned spectators as she departed, though she left behind a substantial trail of blood in the corner of the track that required extensive cleaning.
Emergency Surgery and Ongoing Medical Tests
Polish Olympic officials confirmed that Sellier received initial stitches at the arena before being transported to a hospital for more comprehensive tests and surgery. A spokesperson for the Polish team provided an update to the BBC, stating: '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.'
Polish Olympic Committee president Konrad Niedzwiecki offered additional details during an interview with Eurosport: 'Kamila underwent surgery to repair the damaged bone, everything was cleaned. She woke up this morning with significant swelling, she didn't sleep much last night. According to what the head of the medical mission, Dr. Hubert Krysztofiak, told me this evening, she will undergo eye movement tests today.'
Niedzwiecki emphasized that initial eye tests had produced positive results, noting: 'Yesterday, the eye passed the first tests, and that was the most important thing for us.'
Teammates React to Shocking Incident
The accident visibly shook Sellier's teammates and competitors. Natalia Maliszewska, another Polish skater, told reporters: 'My thoughts are with her. I can't think of anything else.'
Gabriela Topolska, another teammate, added context about the rarity but reality of such injuries in speed skating: 'These aren't common accidents, but they do happen. Kamila already has one of them, from a skate on her face. Kamila has a cut in her skin, with stitches.'
Race Results Amidst the Chaos
Following the dramatic incident and subsequent cleanup, the 1500m event continued to its conclusion. Dutch skater Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong claimed a surprise gold medal, with Norway's Ragne Wiklund taking silver and Canada's Valerie Maltais earning bronze. The podium celebrations were tempered by concerns about Sellier's condition and the graphic nature of the accident that had paused the competition.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent dangers in high-speed winter sports, where athletes compete on razor-sharp blades at tremendous velocities. While such severe facial injuries remain relatively uncommon in speed skating, they represent a constant risk that athletes and medical teams must prepare for during major competitions like the Winter Olympics.
