Kamila Sellier Stretchered From Olympic 1500 After Opponent's Blade Causes Facial Cut
Polish speedskater Kamila Sellier was stretchered off and hospitalized after sustaining a blade cut to her face during the Olympic 1500 event at the Winter Olympics 2026. The injury removed Sellier from the race and drew immediate medical attention, underlining the acute danger of in-race contact.
Development details: Kamila Sellier
During the Olympic 1500 at the Winter Olympics 2026, Kamila Sellier suffered a cut to her face caused by contact with an opponent's blade. Medical personnel placed her on a stretcher and she was taken from the course for further treatment, after which she was hospitalized. The incident happened in the midst of the 1500m race and resulted in Sellier being unable to finish the event.
Context and escalation
The injury occurred during direct competition in the Olympic 1500, where skaters race in close proximity. The immediate escalation — a blade-inflicted cut to the face — prompted an on-course medical response and the decision to remove Sellier from the race on a stretcher. That sequence of events converted a race incident into a medical emergency requiring hospital care.
Immediate impact
The most tangible consequences were Sellier's withdrawal from the 1500 and her hospitalization. Officials and medical teams intervened at the scene, interrupting her participation in the Olympic event and necessitating off-site treatment. The injury affected not only Sellier personally but also the conduct and outcome of that 1500 race, as one competitor was taken out of contention by the incident.
Forward outlook
Sellier's hospitalization represents the immediate next step in her care; any further competitive decisions will depend on medical assessments and recovery, which are now the primary determinants of her status at the Winter Olympics 2026. What makes this notable is that the incident removed a national competitor mid-race and shifted attention to athlete safety during the remainder of the Olympic speedskating program.
