Kamila Sellier stretchered after blade cuts face in Olympic 1500
Polish short track skater kamila sellier, 25, underwent surgery after suffering a deep cut to the right side of her face in a crash during the Olympic 1500 metres quarter-final, and a team spokesperson said she is in good condition while further tests on her eye are planned.
Crash in quarter-final at Milano Ice Skating Arena
The incident happened in a quarter-final at the Milano Ice Skating Arena when Sellier went down alongside 14-time Olympic medalist Arianna Fontana of Italy and American Kristen Santos-Griswold. Santos-Griswold was penalized for an illegal lane pass that contributed to the collision, a penalty that kept her from advancing through the quarter-final round.
Kamila Sellier taken from the ice after lengthy treatment
Sellier required lengthy treatment on the ice, during which staff held up a white sheet while she was attended to. Workers later cleaned a trail of blood left in the final corner of the track during the competition break. She was eventually taken away on a stretcher and gave a thumbs up to the crowd as she was removed from the arena.
Treatment, surgery and an eye check
The 25-year-old posted an update on Instagram the following day with a photo that appeared to show her in a hospital bed; the image cropped out the right side of her face where the cut occurred. She wrote, "I know that one day I’ll look at this picture and remember that I’m stronger than I ever believed, " and added that she was "doing quite okay. " A Polish team spokesperson 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. "
Race result and immediate fallout
South Korea’s Kim Gil-li won the gold in the final; Fontana finished fifth and missed the chance to equal a Winter Olympics record for career medals. The quarter-final penalty to Santos-Griswold removed her from contention and left Sellier’s recovery and medical checks as the primary concern for the Polish team.
The Polish team has confirmed surgery has taken place and said tests to check Sellier’s eye are scheduled for today. Teams and officials at the Milano Ice Skating Arena continued competition after workers cleaned the ice, while medical staff monitor Sellier’s condition following the operation.
