Kamila Sellier Hospitalized After Brutal Olympic Crash — Doctors Monitor Eye Injury Following 1500m Quarterfinal Collision

A frightening collision involving Polish short track skater Kamila Sellier left fans stunned during the women’s 1500m quarterfinal at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. The 25-year-old athlete was rushed to the hospital following the incident and required an immediate medical procedure. In the hours since the crash, new information has emerged regarding her condition and the seriousness of the injuries she sustained on the ice.

During Friday’s quarterfinal heat, Sellier was skating strongly in third position, maintaining close contact with the leaders as the pace intensified. Entering one of the turns, the pack tightened dramatically, leaving little room for error. After a slight mistake by another competitor, multiple skaters went down, including race favorite Arianna Fontana. Unfortunately, Sellier endured the most severe consequences, falling dangerously close to another athlete’s blades and suffering a deep cut from a skate.

Officials reacted instantly, halting the race as medical personnel hurried onto the rink to provide emergency care. The severity of Sellier’s injury was immediately apparent, requiring urgent intervention. She was carefully placed on a stretcher and transported to a nearby hospital for further evaluation. After a delay, the competition resumed, but Sellier’s Olympic race had come to an abrupt and painful end.

Shortly after the accident, Poland’s Olympic team leader Konrad Niedźwiedzki shared initial details with Radio ZET, confirming that Sellier remained conscious following the crash. He explained that she suffered lacerations to her eyelid and cheek, and that doctors were concerned about a possible cheekbone fracture. While she was stable, the facial injury required careful medical assessment due to its location near her eye.

Later that evening, Katarzyna Kochaniak-Roman, spokesperson for the Polish Olympic Committee, provided an update to the media. She confirmed that Sellier underwent a medical procedure after a CT scan revealed a small fracture. Surgeons reopened the wound to thoroughly examine the bone and surrounding structures. Sellier remained hospitalized overnight for monitoring. Kochaniak-Roman described her as “very brave,” noting that she was able to stand up on her own. Her parents and the national team doctor have remained by her side throughout.

On Saturday morning, sports journalist Mateusz Ligęza of Radio ZET posted an update on X, reporting that Sellier managed to sleep through the night. Doctors are still awaiting additional test results to fully determine the extent of the injury. Significant swelling remains, and specialists plan to closely evaluate the mobility and function of her eye as part of their continued assessment.

Her teammate Natalia Maliszewska, who was also eliminated from the event, spoke openly about the frightening moment in an interview with Eurosport. She explained that Sellier simply found herself in an unfortunate position during a chaotic fall. “It was an accident, a total accident, but sadly these things happen,” Maliszewska said, emphasizing that no one intended harm in the high-speed scramble.

Maliszewska also reminded viewers that this was not the first time Sellier had experienced facial injuries during her career. She highlighted the inherent risks of short track speed skating, where athletes reach speeds of approximately 50 kilometers per hour while maneuvering on razor-sharp blades. Although competitors wear protective, cut-resistant suits and gloves, certain areas — especially the face — remain vulnerable in split-second collisions.