Winter Olympics 2026 Olympics Polish speed skater Kamila Sellier gives hospital update after taking blade to face in horrific Olympic scene By Matt Ehalt Published Feb. 21, 2026, 8:42 a.m. ET Polish speed skater Kamila Sellier is taking a positive approach after suffering a horrific injury during the Olympic Games.
Sellier said she’s doing “Okay” and posted a photo image from the hospital after taking a blade to the face that left her bloodied before she was stretchered off the ice and taken to a hospital.
The 25-year-old underwent surgery, according to BBC.
“i know that one day i’ll look at this picture and remember that i’m stronger than i ever believed,” Sellier posted to Instagram on Saturday morning. “thank you for all your words of support, just wanted to let you know that i’m doing quite okay 🫣 #thankyou.”
View this post on Instagram Sellier suffered the scary injury Friday during the sixth quarterfinal head of the women’s 1500 meters when American skater Kristen Santos-Griswold’s skate caught her in the face while she slipped to the ice during a tangle with Italy’s Ariana Fontana.
Santos-Griswold received a penalty for an illegal lane pass during the sequence.
Sellier (red) after being cut. AP Sellier immediately began bleeding, and the race would be delayed to allow her medical attention under a large white sheet.
She eventually exited the ice via a stretcher, flashing a thumbs up to the crowd.
Sellier received stitches at the Milano Ice Skating Arena before leaving to be hospitalized, and a CT scan revealed a minor fracture, according to Polsat Sports.
“Kamila had surgery last night. She’s in good condition,” a Team Poland official told BBC. “We’re waiting for further tests today, to check her eye for any signs of damage.”
Konrad Niedźwiedzki, the sports director of the Polish Speed Skating Association, said Friday that the accident may have injured Sellier’s zygomatic bone (cheekbone).
He said she was “conscious” after the incident but had a cut cheek, which received stitches, in addition to swelling, according to Polsat Sport, as translated by Google.
Niedźwiedzki also told EuroSport, according to the Daily Mail, that Sellier underwent surgery to “repair the damaged bone” and woke up with significant swelling.
Sellier exits the ring on a stretcher. REUTERS “‘According to what the head of the medical mission, Dr. Hubert Krysztofiak, told me this evening, she will undergo eye movement tests today,'” Niedźwiedzki said, per the Daily Mail.
“‘Yesterday, the eye passed the first tests, and that was the most important thing for us.'”
Sellier did not advance due to the injury, while Santos-Griswold’s penalty prevented her from moving on.
