Poland's Kamila Sellier stretchered off after opponent's blade slices over her eye in Olympic 1500

DAVE SKRETTA Fri, February 20, 2026 at 8:15 PM UTC

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1 / 0APTOPIX Milan Cortina Olympics Short Track SpeedskatingKamila Sellier of Poland falls during the women's 1,500 meters short track speedskating quarterfinal at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) ()

MILAN (AP) — Short-track speedskater Kamila Sellier of Poland was immobilized on a stretcher and wheeled out of the Milano Ice Skating Arena on Friday night after a competitor's blade sliced her over her left eye during the women's 1500 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Sellier went down along with 15-time Olympic medalist Ariana Fontana of Italy and American skater Kristen Santos-Griswold, who was penalized for an illegal lane pass that contributed to the accident. That kept her from advancing through the quarterfinal round.

The race was paused while Sellier received attention, a large white sheet blocking her from the crowd that was packed into the arena to see the final night of short-track speedskating. She eventually gave a thumbs-up to the crowd as she was taken away.

There was a trail of blood on the ice that workers had to clean during the break.

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Fontana's skinsuit was nicked up and she received some help from her physiotherapist on her left hip during the pause. She wound up finishing second to Hanne Desmet of Belgium, sending her through to the semifinal round.

Fontana, the reigning Olympic silver medalist in the 1500, was trying to break a tie with Norwegian cross-country skier Marit Bjørgen as the most decorated Winter Olympian. They are tied with 15 medals, including gold that Fontana won in the 2000 meter mixed relay and the silver medals she won in the 500 meters and 3000 meter relay earlier in the Milan Cortina Games.

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AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

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Source: “AOL Sports”