‘stronger than ever’
Winter Olympics skater breaks silence after horror crash which saw blade miss eye by millimetres
A POLISH short-track speed skater underwent surgery last night following one of the scariest accidents in Winter Olympics history.
Kamila Sellier was accidentally cut by the skating blade of a rival in a horror collision on Friday evening in Milan.
Kamila Sellier has issued an update after a rival’s blade sliced her below her left eyeCredit: instagram @kamila_sellier
Sellier was treated behind a white sheet on the track after the blade slashed her eyeCredit: AP
Though she had been leading with nine laps to go, she was passed by Italian Arianna Fontana and then as Sellier lost her footing on a turn, the blade of American Kristen Santos-Griswold accidentally sliced her above her left eye.
The race was immediately stopped and medics quickly rushed to assist Sellier – slow-motion relays showed the moment of impact as she skidded across the ice and blood poured from her eyelid down her left cheek.
It happened during the quarter-finals of the women’s 1500 metres competition and is one of the most gut-wrenching injuries ever seen in the sport’s history.
The 25-year-old, who was surrounded by a white sheet for privacy as she received medical attention, was stretched off away from the Milano Speed Skating Stadium and then taken to hospital.
On Saturday lunchtime, Kamila Sellier posted a selfie from her Milan hospital room, while wearing a gown, but with only one eye — the good one — shown in the photo.
The extent of damage on her other eye could not be seen.
She said, “I know that one day I’ll look at this picture and remember that I’m stronger than I ever believed.
“Thank you for all your words of support, just wanted to let you know that I’m doing quite okay.”
Following the terrifying crash, Katarzyna Kochaniak-Roman, the press attaché of the Polish Olympic team, gave an update on her facial injury to Polish media.
Speaking late on Friday night, Kochaniak-Roman said, “Kamila is currently undergoing surgery to reopen the wound so doctors can thoroughly assess the bone’s condition.
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“The decision was made after CT scan results revealed a minor fracture. After the procedure, Kamila will remain in the hospital overnight for observation.
“She’s very brave. She got out of bed on her own. Her parents and the national team doctor have been with her the entire time.”
Racers wear protective eye wear when skating but Sellier’s glasses were knocked off by the impact of the collision with Santos-Griswold’s blade and this is how she got cut.
Connecticut skater Santos-Griswold, 31, was penalised for an illegal lane pass that led to the incident and did not advance to the semifinals.
Reports claim she fought back tears when informed of the situation by the referee.
Polish skater Sellier was competing in the short track Speed skating women’s 1500m on FridayCredit: Getty
Sellier fell and was struck in the face with a skate bladeCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
She was taken away on a stretcher and went to hospitalCredit: Alamy
The Polish Olympic chef de mission Konrad Niedźwiedzki had earlier reported she suffered a cut on her cheek, which has since been stitched up.
Test results may determine if she had also broken her zygomatic facial bone, commonly known as the cheekbone.
Niedźwiedzki said, “She gave a thumbs up as she left the ice rink, so she’s conscious.
“She has a cut on her cheek, which was stitched up immediately. From what I saw, most likely her eyelid is also cut, half of it.
“There is considerable swelling, so it’s hard to say at this point what else happened inside.
“I hope these are only superficial wounds, but we have to wait for the test results from the hospital.
“There’s a huge, large, not to cause panic, large swelling, so it is possible that this is related to the fact that the zygomatic bone has been damaged or broken.”
