Speed Skater’s Near Miss: Blade Grazes Face in Gruesome Olympic Crash
A terrifying incident has shaken the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, where Polish speed skater Kamila Sellier narrowly avoided a catastrophic injury during the women’s 1500m short track quarter-final. The close call, involving a collision with rivals and a skate blade to the face, has highlighted the inherent dangers of the sport.
The dramatic event unfolded with 13 laps remaining in the race. Sellier was involved in a multi-skater pile-up that included Italian speed skating legend Arianna Fontana. As Sellier fell, the blade of American competitor Kristen Santos-Griswold made contact with her face, striking just below her left eye.
The impact was immediate and severe, with blood visibly streaming from Sellier’s face. A collective gasp rippled through the crowd at the Milano MSK Competition Rink, followed by a stunned silence as replays of the incident were broadcast. Sellier remained on the ice, clearly in distress, clutching her face as medical personnel rushed to her aid.
After receiving attention from the on-ice medics, Sellier was eventually stretchered off the ice. Before being taken away, she managed to offer a reassuring thumbs-up to the concerned spectators.
Officials from the Polish Olympic delegation later confirmed that Sellier had received stitches for the wound and had been transported to a local hospital for further assessment. Crucially, they stated that her eye had thankfully been unharmed by the blade.
The race was temporarily halted for several minutes to allow Sellier to be attended to and for the ice to be cleaned. Neither Sellier nor Santos-Griswold, who was penalised for an illegal manoeuvre leading up to the crash, were able to finish the event.
Arianna Fontana, a seasoned Olympian with an impressive 15 medals to her name, received treatment for a hip issue during the stoppage. Despite the interruption, the veteran skater was able to return to the ice and secured second place, qualifying for the semi-finals. Fontana continued her strong performance, ultimately reaching the final where she finished in fifth position.
The gold medal in the women’s 1500m was claimed by South Korea’s Kim Gil-li, who edged out her compatriot Choi Min-jeong. This victory denied Choi the chance for an unprecedented third consecutive 1500m Olympic gold medal.
For the 21-year-old Kim, competing in her first Olympics, this gold medal adds to an already successful Games. She was also a member of the South Korean team that secured gold in the women’s relay earlier in the week and had previously won a bronze medal in the 1000m event. Her impressive speed and performances have earned her the nickname “Lamborgilli,” a playful nod to the high-performance Italian sports car, Lamborghini.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved in short track speed skating, where skaters compete at high speeds in close proximity, with razor-sharp blades on their skates. While Sellier is fortunate to have avoided a more severe injury, the event will undoubtedly remain a significant talking point of the Milano Cortina 2026 Games.
