Quick Read
- Julia Simon won gold in the women’s 15-kilometer individual biathlon race.
- This marks her second gold medal at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
- Simon competed after serving a six-month ban and a prison sentence for stealing money from a teammate.
- French teammate Lou Jeanmonnot secured silver, while Bulgaria’s Lora Hristova took bronze.
ANTERSELVA, Italy (Azat TV) – French biathlete Julia Simon secured her second gold medal at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics on Wednesday, winning the women’s 15-kilometer individual race, a victory that comes after she faced a six-month ban and a prison sentence for stealing money from a teammate. Simon’s remarkable comeback to the top of her sport at the highest level follows a period of significant controversy and legal challenges, making her Olympic triumph particularly notable. Her compatriot, Lou Jeanmonnot, earned the silver medal, completing a dominant French performance in the challenging event.
Julia Simon’s Path to Olympic Gold
Simon’s victory in the 15-kilometer individual biathlon marks a historic achievement, as she became the first Frenchwoman to win an Olympic gold medal in this specific event. She completed the course in 41 minutes, 15 seconds, missing only one target during her four shooting stages. This individual gold adds to her earlier success at the Milan Cortina Games, where she also clinched gold in the mixed relay on Sunday, alongside Jeanmonnot, Eric Perrot, and Quentin Fillon Maillet. Despite an early penalty in the first standing stage of the individual race, Simon demonstrated exceptional composure and powerful skiing to gradually move back up the standings, ultimately securing the top spot.
“It’s incredible,” Simon stated, reflecting on her first individual Olympic gold. “A lot of emotions… When you are standing on the podium you think about your doubts, your good moments, bad moments and the people who help you. I am very proud of myself today.” She emphasized her focus during the race, noting, “When I had one mistake, I said to myself, ‘okay, maybe other people will have mistakes too, so stay focused on yourself. You have to shoot clean the next 10 targets and ski fast.’”
Controversy and Comeback
The Olympic success of the 29-year-old biathlete is set against a backdrop of serious legal and disciplinary issues. Julia Simon recently served a six-month ban, which included five months suspended, and faced a prison sentence after being found guilty of theft and credit card fraud. The allegations stemmed from her allegedly stealing money from a teammate, a situation that drew considerable attention within the biathlon community and beyond. Despite these legal troubles and the ban, the French ski federation made the decision in November 2025 to permit her to compete in the Winter Games, paving the way for her current Olympic appearance. This decision allowed Simon to rebound from a slow start to the season and peak for the Milan Cortina Olympics, demonstrating what France 24 described as “nerves of steel.”
Dominant Performance in Anterselva
The women’s 15-kilometer individual biathlon race, held in Anterselva, Italy, under cloudy skies and on hard tracks, proved to be a demanding test for all competitors. Racers ski a 3-kilometer loop five times, interspersed with prone and standing shooting stages. Accurate shooting is paramount, as each missed target incurs a one-minute penalty added to the athlete’s total time. Simon’s ability to overcome her single missed shot by excelling on the skis was crucial.
Lou Jeanmonnot, Simon’s teammate, secured the silver medal, finishing 53.1 seconds behind after incurring two penalties. Her strong skiing performance, particularly in the final lap, allowed her to close the gap and secure France’s 1-2 finish. The bronze medal went to Bulgaria’s Lora Hristova, who delivered a surprising flawless shooting performance, finishing 1:04.5 behind Simon. Hristova’s achievement marked Bulgaria’s first biathlon medal since 2002. Other notable finishes included Vanessa Voigt of Germany in fourth and local favorite Dorothea Wierer of Italy in fifth.
Julia Simon’s dual Olympic gold medals, achieved amidst a return from a ban and legal conviction, highlight the complex interplay between athletic performance, personal accountability, and the decisions of sporting federations. Her ability to deliver under immense pressure, both on and off the course, underscores a narrative of redemption, albeit one that remains intertwined with the serious allegations that preceded her Olympic comeback.