A Polish speed skater is lucky to have not lost an eye after a gruesome crash in the women’s 1500m short track quarter final at Milano Cortina 2026.

With 13 laps left, Kamila Sellier was involved in a crash with Italian rival Arianna Fontana. As she went down, the blade of American Kristen Santos-Griswold struck her in the face, just below the left eye.

Blood immediately began streaming from her face as a the crowd in the Milano MSK Competition Rink let out a collective gasp, and then fell silent as replays were shown.

Kamila Sellier was struck in the face by the skate of American Kristen Santos-Griswold after a collision. DeFodi Images via Getty Images

Sellier remained curled up holding her face on the ice as she was attended to by medics.

She was eventually taken from the ice on a stretcher, but not before she gave the crowd a thumbs up.

Polish Olympic officials said Sellier received stitches to the wound before she was taken to hospital, and confirmed her eye was unharmed.

The race was delayed several minutes while Sellier was assisted, and the ice cleaned. She did not finish the race, nor did Santos-Griswold, who was penalised for an illegal overtake in the lead-up to the crash.

Fontana, an veteran with 15 Olympic medals to her name, received treatment on her hip during the stoppage, but managed to return to the ice and finish second to progress through to the semi final.

Incredibly, she would also progress to the final where she would finish fifth.

Sellier lay motionless on the ice before she was attended to by medics. DeFodi Images via Getty Images

South Korea’s Kim Gil-li won gold, ahead of compatriot Choi Min-jeong, which denied her an incredible three-peat of 1500m golds.

Skating at her first Olympics, Kim was part of the South Korean team that won gold in the women’s relay on Wednesday, and also took bronze in the 1000m.

The 21-year-old has dubbed “Lamborgilli” – a nod to the speedy Italian Lamborghini sports car.