Winter Olympics star has face slashed open in horror speed skating accident




Polish speed skater Kamila Sellier was stretchered from the Milan Ice Skating Arena on Friday night after sustaining a shocking face injury at the Winter Olympics.A rival’s skate blade caught Sellier beneath her left eye as she fell on the ice during the women’s 1500m quarter-final.The 25-year-old’s face was left covered in blood – with medical staff attending to her immediately while a large white sheet shielded her from spectators.Sellier later gave a thumbs-up to the crowd as she was carried away, though she left a trail of blood on the track.The horror moment was caught on broadcast imagesThe collision involved 14-time Olympic medallist Ariana Fontana of Italy and American skater Kristen Santos-Griswold.Santos-Griswold’s right skate struck Sellier as the three competitors tumbled together.Officials halted the race while Sellier received treatment on the ice.Santos-Griswold was subsequently disqualified from the event.Medical staff rushed onto the rink to shield the injured star from spectators | REUTERSPICTURED: The moment Kristen Santos-Griswold’s skate sliced into Kamila Sellier | REUTERSShe was penalised for making an illegal lane pass that appeared to cause the crash.Fontana’s skinsuit was torn in the incident and her physiotherapist treated her left hip during the stoppage.Sellier departed the arena after receiving stitches for cuts to her cheek and eyelid, Polish officials later confirmed.She was taken to hospital for additional tests.

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The 25-year-old’s face was left covered in blood | REUTERSThe 25-year-old’s face was left covered in blood – with medical staff pictured attending to her immediately | GETTY”We are waiting for what the hospital tests will show,” said Konrad Niedźwiedzki, press attache for the Polish speed skating team.Teammate Natalia Maliszewska appeared shaken when speaking to reporters.”My thoughts are with her,” Maliszewska said. “I can’t think of anything else.”Fontana recovered to reach the final, where she narrowly beat China’s Zhang Chutong at the finish line.