Short track-Poland's Sellier has surgery on facial injury after fall
Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics - Short Track Speed Skating - Women's 1500m - Quarterfinals - Milano Ice Skating Arena, Milan, Italy - February 20, 2026. Kamila Sellier of Poland with medical staff after sustaining an injury during the Women's 1500m Quarterfinals REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli
MILAN, Feb 21 : Polish short track skater Kamila Sellier said that she was 'doing okay' as she remained in hospital on Saturday for treatment for a facial fracture suffered in a crash on the final night of competition at the Milano Cortina Olympics.
Sellier was bleeding heavily after she appeared to be hit by a skate close to her eye in a fall which also involved American Kristen Santos-Griswold and Italian favourite Arianna Fontana in a quarter-final of the 1,500 metres on Friday night.
A scan revealed a minor fracture and Sellier had been undergoing surgery to reopen the wound so doctors can assess the bone's condition, the Polish Olympic Committee said.
"Kamila is doing well and remains under the care of specialists," the statement said, adding that she would stay in hospital until Monday when a decision on further treatment would be made.
The Polish skater needed lengthy treatment before she was taken away on a stretcher from the Milano Ice Skating Arena. A white sheet was held up when she was being treated on the ice to prevent the silent crowd from seeing the extent of her injury.
"I know that one day I’ll look at this picture and remember that I'm stronger than I ever believed," the 25-year-old posted on Instagram on Saturday.
"Thank you for all your words of support, just wanted to let you know that I’m doing quite okay," she added.
In the picture she appeared to be wearing a hospital gown and did not display the side of her face where she sustained the injury.
South Korea's Kim Gil-li won the gold in the final, with Fontana finishing fifth and missing out on the chance to equal a Winter Olympics record for career medals.
(Writing by Keith Weir, editing by Ed Osmond and Pritha Sarkar)
