A terrifying injury occurred Friday during the Olympics women’s short-track speed skating quarterfinals, as Poland’s Kamila Sellier took an opponent’s blade to the face while falling to the ice.
Sellier appeared to slip while turning before hitting the ice. While down there, the blade of American Kristen Santos-Griswold cut Sellier above her left eye while Italy’s Arianna Fontana and Santos-Griswold also fell. Officials stopped the race until Sellier was stretchered off and sent to a hospital for additional medical attention.
Officials determined Santos-Griswold made an illegal lane pass prior to Sellier’s fall, resulting in a disqualification and no podium finish. Fontana advanced to the finals, where she finished fifth. Korea’s Kim Gilli eventually won gold while fellow Korean Choi Minjeong and American Corine Stoddard earned silver and bronze, respectively.
A day after her injury, Sellier shared an update on Instagram to reassure her fans she’s doing OK.
“i know that one day i’ll look at this picture and remember that i’m stronger than i ever believed,” Sellier wrote. “thank you for all your words of support, just wanted to let you know that i’m doing quite okay.”
According to Konrad Niedźwiedzki, sports director of the Polish Speed Skating Association, Sellier is awaiting tests to determine whether she broke her cheek bone, which would help explain why her face swelled to a”considerable” degree after the injury. Niedźwiedzki also told Polish media Sellier’s eyelid has been cut, in addition to other gashes on her face.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Polish speed skater shares injury update after taking blade to face
