Polish speed skater stretchered off after opponent’s blade slices near her eye
Sydney Morning Herald
February 20, 2026
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A Polish short-track speed skater, Kamila Sellier, was stretchered off the ice after a competitor’s blade accidentally sliced her above her left eye during the women’s 1500 metres event at the Milano Cortina Olympics. The incident occurred on Friday night when Sellier, along with 15-time Olympic medallist Arianna Fontana of Italy and American skater Kristen Santos-Griswold, were competing in the final race of the short-track speed skating program.
The accident happened during a high-speed chase on the track. Sellier went down after being struck by the blade, while Santos-Griswold was penalised for an illegal lane pass that contributed to the collision. The race was temporarily halted as medical staff attended to Sellier, who suffered a facial cut above her left eye. She received immediate attention on the ice, including stitches at the arena before being taken to the hospital for further tests. Despite the injury, Sellier’s vision was unaffected, and she later advanced to the finals, narrowly winning against Zhang Chutong.
Fontana, the reigning Olympic silver medallist in the 1500 metres, also sustained a minor injury during the incident but continued competing. She finished second to Belgium’s Hanne Desmet in her race, advancing to the semi-final round. Fontana is now just one medal short of tying with Norwegian cross-country skier Marit Bjørgen as the most decorated Winter Olympian.
This incident highlights the intense and unpredictable nature of short-track speed skating, where minor mistakes can lead to major consequences. The accident paused the action for several minutes, drawing attention from the packed arena. Despite the drama, Sellier’s resilience was evident when
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Originally published on Sydney Morning Herald on 2/20/2026