Kamila Sellier Undergoes Surgery After Blade Cut to Face in Olympic Short Track Crash
Polish short track skater Kamila Sellier, 25, has undergone surgery after suffering a serious cut to her face in a crash during the quarter-final round at the Milano Ice Skating Arena. Sellier posted an update on Instagram saying she is "doing okay, " while her team says she is in good condition and further tests will check her eye for signs of damage.
Kamila Sellier: injury, treatment and condition
The 25-year-old Polish skater required lengthy on-ice treatment and was eventually taken from the Milano Ice Skating Arena on a stretcher. A white sheet was held up while she was treated to prevent the crowd from seeing the full extent of the injury. As she was removed, Sellier gave a thumbs up to the crowd and left a trail of blood in the final corner of the track that workers had to clean up during the break.
In an Instagram update the athlete said she is "doing okay. " The accompanying photo appears to show her in a hospital bed and crops out the right side of her face, where she received the injury. A Polish team spokesperson said that Sellier had surgery the previous night, is in good condition, and that further tests were expected to check her eye for any signs of damage.
The crash at Milano Ice Skating Arena
The incident occurred in a quarter-final short track race at the Milano Ice Skating Arena. Sellier went down alongside Italy's Arianna Fontana and American skater Kristen Santos-Griswold. The collision required extended medical attention for Sellier on the ice and interrupted the session while staff cleared the track.
Penalties and quarter-final implications
American skater Kristen Santos-Griswold was penalized for an illegal lane pass that contributed to the collision. That penalty prevented Santos-Griswold from advancing through the quarter-final round. Arianna Fontana, who was also involved in the fall, continued through the event and ultimately finished fifth in the final.
Podium outcome and missed milestones
South Korea's Kim Gil-li won the gold in the final. Arianna Fontana finished fifth and, as a result, missed the chance to equal a Winter Olympics record for career medals.
What comes next for Sellier
Sellier has shared that she is "doing quite okay" and expressed confidence that she will be stronger when she looks back on the image of the crash. Medical follow-up was underway: the Polish team indicated that further tests would focus on assessing her eye for any signs of damage. Details about recovery timelines are unclear in the provided context.
This remains a developing situation for the athlete and the short track field at the Games; medical updates and any implications for future competition participation will depend on the results of the eye tests and follow-up assessments.
