Blade slices over Sellier's eye in Olympic speedskating 1500 - ESPN
ESPN
February 20, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Kamila Sellier of Poland suffered a significant injury during the women's 1,500-meter short-track speedskating event at the Milan Cortina Olympics. A competitor's blade accidentally sliced her above her left eye, causing her to fall and be stretchered off the ice. Despite the severity of the incident, Polish officials confirmed that Sellier’s eye was unharmed, though she required stitches and further medical evaluation at a hospital. The race was temporarily halted as medical personnel attended to her, with a visible trail of blood left on the track needing cleanup. During this pause, Sellier gave a thumbs-up to the crowd, demonstrating resilience despite the traumatic event.
The accident occurred when multiple skaters, including 15-time Olympic medalist Ariana Fontana of Italy and American skater Kristen Santos-Griswold, were involved in a collision. Santos-Griswold was penalized for an illegal lane pass that contributed to the crash, preventing her from advancing further in the competition. Fontana, despite sustaining a minor injury on her hip, continued racing and secured second place behind Hanne Desmet of Belgium, advancing to the semifinals. She later progressed to the finals, where she narrowly edged out Zhang Chutong at the finish line.
Fontana’s performance was particularly notable as she aimed to tie Norwegian cross-country skier Marit Bjørgen for the most Olympic medals. With her victories in the 2,000-meter mixed relay and silvers in both the 500 meters and 3,000-meter relay earlier in the Games, Fontana’s medal count was already impressive. Her ability to compete at such a high level despite the incident underscored her determination and skill.
This incident highlights the intense competition and physical demands of short-track speedskating. While Sellier’s injury added drama to the event, it
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Originally published on ESPN on 2/20/2026