Julia Simon wins Olympic gold despite case
France’s Julia Simon captured biathlon gold at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Tuesday, prevailing in a tense race despite an ongoing legal case in France over alleged credit card fraud.
Simon delivered a near-flawless performance on the range and strong pace on the skis, pulling clear in the final lap to secure the top spot on the podium. The victory adds Olympic gold to her world titles and cements her status among the sport’s elite.
“I stayed focused on the race and nothing else,” Simon said afterward. A French team official backed her, stating, “She has handled a difficult period with professionalism.” One rival admitted, “When Julia shoots clean, she’s almost impossible to beat.”
The fraud case, which Simon denies, remains under legal review in France, but she has been cleared to compete. Her triumph now shifts the spotlight back to sport, at least for the moment.