Polish speed skater Kamila Sellier suffered a deep cut above her eye when another skater’s blade slashed her during the women’s 1500m race at the 2026 Winter Games.
Italy’s Ariana Fontana and American skater Kristen Santos-Griswold also went down in the same turn. But Sellier took the worst of it.
Medical staff rushed to her within seconds. They carried her off the rink on a stretcher. As she was taken away, Sellier managed to give a thumbs-up to the crowd a small gesture of defiance in a terrifying moment.
On Saturday morning, Sellier posted a selfie from her hospital bed in Milan. She carefully cropped the photo so the injured side of her face didn’t show, but her message was one of strength.
“I know that one day I’ll look at this picture and remember that I’m stronger than I ever believed,” she wrote. “Thank you for all your words of support, just wanted to let you know that I’m doing quite okay.”
Poland’s Olympic Committee president, Konrad Niedzwiecki, provided an update to Eurosport after doctors completed the procedure.
“Kamila underwent surgery to repair the damaged bone, everything was cleaned,” Niedzwiecki said. “She woke up this morning with significant swelling, she didn’t sleep much last night.”
Race officials later penalized Santos-Griswold for an illegal lane change that caused the crash. The penalty ended her race in the quarterfinals.
Sellier’s update brought relief to fans who had feared she might lose her eyesight. The image of blood on the ice was shocking. Her recovery, even in its early stages, is a testament to her resilience.
Some Olympians win gold. Others show us what courage looks like. Sellier is doing both.