A frightening crash during the women’s 1,500-meter short-track speedskating event at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics left Polish skater Kamila Sellier injured and briefly halted competition Friday night.
Sellier was taken off the ice on a stretcher after another skater’s blade cut her above the left eye during a chaotic quarterfinal heat at the Milano Ice Skating Arena. The incident occurred when Sellier went down alongside Italian star Ariana Fontana and American Kristen Santos-Griswold in a high-speed tangle that unfolded in one of the race’s final corners.
Feb 16, 2026; Milan, Italy; Xandra Velzeboer of the Netherlands, Gilli Kim of the Republic of Korea, and Kristen Santos-Griswold of the United States skates during a women’s 1000m quarterfinal during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
Officials ruled that Santos-Griswold committed an illegal lane pass that contributed to the collision, resulting in her disqualification from the heat and preventing her from advancing to the next round. The crash sent multiple skaters sliding across the ice, but Sellier appeared to suffer the most serious injury.
The race was paused as medical personnel rushed onto the track. Arena staff held up a large white sheet to shield Sellier from the view of the crowd, which had filled the venue for the final night of short-track events. After receiving treatment on the ice, she was immobilized and wheeled out of the arena. Before being taken away, Sellier raised her thumb toward the audience in a reassuring gesture.
Blood was visible on the ice surface near the final turn, and arena workers were required to clean the area before competition resumed.
According to Polish team officials, Sellier’s eye was not permanently damaged. She received stitches at the arena before being transported to a hospital for further evaluation and testing. No additional details about her condition were immediately released.
Feb 12, 2026; Milan, Italy; Francesca Lollobrigida of Italy skates in the women’s speedskating 5000m competition during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Speed Skating Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Fontana, a 15-time Olympic medalist and one of the sport’s most decorated athletes, was also involved in the crash but was able to continue competing. Her racing suit was visibly cut, and she appeared to receive treatment for her left hip from her physiotherapist during the break in action.
Despite the disruption, Fontana returned to the ice and finished second in her heat behind Belgium’s Hanne Desmet, securing a place in the semifinals. She later advanced to the final, narrowly edging out China’s Zhang Chutong at the line to keep her medal hopes alive.
Fontana entered the event already tied with Norwegian cross-country skiing legend Marit Bjørgen as the most decorated Winter Olympian, with 15 medals. At the Milan Cortina Games, she had already claimed gold in the 2,000-meter mixed relay and silver medals in both the 500 meters and the 3,000-meter relay. The 1,500-meter race offered her another opportunity to add to her historic tally.
The crash served as a stark reminder of the risks inherent in short-track speedskating, a sport known for its tight turns, high speeds, and frequent contact between competitors. With skaters racing in close quarters and blades exposed, even minor miscalculations can lead to serious consequences.
While competition continued after the delay, attention remained on Sellier’s condition. Her visible resilience as she left the arena was met with applause, underscoring both the intensity of Olympic competition and the camaraderie that exists among athletes in moments of crisis.
