Polish speedskater Kamila Sellier underwent surgery and is recovering after a skate blade struck her face during a women’s 1500-meter quarterfinal at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Friday, February 20th. Sellier, 25, posted an update to Instagram on Saturday morning stating she was “doing quite okay” and shared a photo from her hospital bed, expressing optimism about her recovery.
The incident occurred during a tangle with Italy’s Ariana Fontana, when American skater Kristen Santos-Griswold’s skate made contact with Sellier’s face as she fell to the ice. Santos-Griswold was penalized for an illegal lane pass during the sequence, according to reports.
Sellier immediately began bleeding and medical personnel attended to her on the ice, covering her with a large white sheet whereas she received initial treatment. She was then stretchered off the ice, acknowledging the crowd with a thumbs-up gesture. She received stitches at the Milano Ice Skating Arena before being transported to the hospital.
A CT scan revealed a minor fracture, according to Polsat Sports. Konrad Niedźwiedzki, the sports director of the Polish Speed Skating Association, stated Friday that the accident potentially injured Sellier’s zygomatic bone, or cheekbone. He also reported that she was conscious following the incident but had sustained a cut cheek requiring stitches, along with swelling.
Niedźwiedzki further detailed that surgery was performed to “repair the damaged bone” and that Sellier woke up with significant swelling, according to EuroSport via the Daily Mail. He indicated that further eye movement tests were scheduled to assess any potential damage.
A Team Poland official confirmed to the BBC that Sellier had surgery Friday night and was in good condition, with additional tests planned to evaluate her eye. Sellier’s injury prevented her from advancing in the competition, while Santos-Griswold’s penalty also resulted in her elimination. Fontana finished fifth in the race.
“i know that one day i’ll look at this picture and remember that i’m stronger than i ever believed,” Sellier wrote in her Instagram post. “thank you for all your words of support, just wanted to let you know that i’m doing quite okay 🫣 #thankyou.”
