Kamila Sellier Undergoes Surgery After Blade Slices Face in Milan-Cortina Short Track Crash
Polish short track speed skater kamila sellier underwent surgery after she was struck in the face by a competitor's blade during the quarter-finals of the women's 1500m at Milan-Cortina 2026. The injury halted competition on the final night of short track, prompted on-ice treatment and a stretchered exit, and left the Polish team awaiting further medical tests.
Development details — Kamila Sellier
Sellier was contesting the quarter-final when she, Arianna Fontana and Kristen Santos-Griswold were brought down in a crash while rounding a corner at the Milano Ice Skating Arena. Officials penalized Santos-Griswold for attempting an illegal pass that contributed to the incident. As Santos-Griswold fell, a skate blade struck Sellier under her left eye.
Racing was paused while medics attended to Sellier behind a large white sheet. Workers later cleaned the final corner of the track. Sellier received stitches at the arena before being taken to hospital for surgery; she was stretchered off the ice and gave a thumbs-up to the crowd as she left. A spokesperson for the Polish team said, "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. "
Context and pressure points
The incident occurred on the final night of short track competition in Milan-Cortina, during one of the sport's longer distance races where multiple skaters jockey for position around tight turns. The close-contact nature of the event meant that a fall by one athlete immediately endangered others nearby. Fontana's skinsuit was nicked and she received assistance from a physiotherapist during the pause; she later progressed through the rounds.
What makes this notable is not only the severity of the cut but the way the injury disrupted the event: officials halted racing, provided a protected treatment area, and then carried on with medical evacuation and cleanup before competition resumed. The mechanics of a fall and an attempted pass were central to how the blade came into contact with Sellier.
Immediate impact
For kamila sellier the immediate consequences were medical and procedural. She required stitches at the arena and surgery at a hospital to address the facial wound and to permit tests on the eye. The crash affected multiple athletes on the ice, halted the quarter-final heat and required event staff to clean blood from the track during the interruption.
The penalty assessed to Santos-Griswold removed her from advancement in that quarter-final. Fontana, one of the skaters brought down, ultimately continued in the competition and advanced through later rounds.
Forward outlook
Polish team officials have said further tests would be carried out to check Sellier's eye for any signs of damage. That medical follow-up is the next confirmed milestone in her care. Event organizers completed on-ice cleanup and resumed competition after the medical evacuation, and the short track program moved forward on its final night as scheduled.
In coming days the focus will be on the results of the hospital tests and any subsequent treatment decisions for Sellier. The matter remains under review while clinicians assess her recovery and the implications for her immediate competitive plans.
