Olympic speedskater Kamila Sellier shares positive update with cropped selfie after surgery on facial injuries

Polish Olympian Kamila Sellier has shared a brief update from hospital after undergoing surgery in Milan.

The 25-year-old was stretchered out of the speedskating arena over the weekend after having her face sliced open by a competitor’s blade during a 1500m race.

Sellier crashed into the wall as blood immediately poured from her face and pooled below her on the ice.

The race was brought to a halt as Sellier received medal attention behind the privacy of a white sheet that blocked the packed crowd from watching.

After being immobilised and moved onto a stretcher, Sellier eventually gave the crowd a thumbs up as she was wheeled out of the arena.

Sellier received stitches before being taken to hospital for an operation.

She later shared a selfie from her hospital bed, cropping out the surgically repaired side of her face.

“I know that one day I’ll look at this picture and remember that I’m stronger than I ever believed,” she wrote.

“Thank you for all your words of support. Just wanted to let you know that I’m doing quite okay.”

But Sellier is not yet out of the woods.

“Kamila had surgery last night. She’s in good condition,” a Poland team spokesperson told the BBC.

“We’re waiting for further tests today, to check her eye for any signs of damage.”

Sellier’s husband Diane, who has also represented Poland in the past, called for “positive energy for (a) good recovery”.

“She is strong and will be back stronger,” he wrote.

American skater Kristen Santos-Griswold and Italy’s Olympic legend Ariana Fontana also went down in the crash that injured Sellier.

Santos-Griswold was later penalised for an illegal lane pass that contributed to the accident, costing her a spot in the quarter-final round.

Fontana went on to finish fifth in the final.