A frightening incident occurred during a short track race on Friday, February 20, 2026, leaving one athlete seriously injured. Polish short track speed skater Kamila Sellier was struck in the face by the blade of a skate during a fall, requiring immediate medical attention on the ice.
The incident took place during the quarterfinal round of the women’s 1500 meter event. Sellier, along with Italian Arianna Fontana and American Kristen Santos-Griswold, all went down in a multi-skater collision. As Sellier fell, she was unfortunately hit by the blade of Santos-Griswold’s skate.
Officials immediately stopped the race to provide medical assistance to Sellier. The severity of her injuries is currently unknown, but reports indicate they are significant. Dutch news outlet Sportnieuws.nl detailed the shocking scene, describing a wave of concern throughout the ice hall.
The competition was temporarily halted while medical personnel attended to Sellier. Showblad.nl reported the incident as a “terrible drama” unfolding at the Games. Further updates on Sellier’s condition are expected as they become available. This event underscores the inherent risks involved in the high-speed, close-quarters competition of short track skating.
Belgian news source DeKrantenKoppen.be as well covered the incident, emphasizing the graphic nature of the injury.
