Winter Olympics star wins gold medal months after prison sentence for stealing from teammate
French biathlete Julia Simon claimed Olympic gold in the women’s 15km individual event at the Milan Cortina Winter Games on Wednesday, crossing the line in 41 minutes and 15 seconds with just a single missed target.
The triumph marks her second gold medal of these Games, following her anchor leg performance in Sunday’s mixed relay victory.
Yet the 29-year-old’s success arrives under a cloud of controversy.
Fewer than four months ago, Simon stood before a court in Albertville, where she received a three-month suspended prison sentence for stealing from a fellow member of the French biathlon squad.
French biathlete Julia Simon received a three-month suspended prison sentence
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The ten-time world champion’s presence in Italy itself proved contentious.
The French Ski Federation had imposed a six-month competition ban, though five months were suspended, permitting Simon to return after missing just one event at the season’s start.
Her offences involved repeatedly using bank card details belonging to teammate Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, along with those of the team physiotherapist, to make online purchases totalling more than €2,000 between 2021 and 2022.
Simon initially denied the allegations for three years, claiming identity theft, before photographs of the credit card were discovered on her mobile telephone.
At her October trial, she admitted guilt whilst expressing bewilderment at her own actions.
Julia Simon won her second gold medal of the Winter Olympics this month
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“I confess the accusations but I don’t remember committing them,” she told the court. “It’s like a blackout.”
The court levied a €15,000 fine alongside the suspended sentence.
Braisaz-Bouchet, the victim of Simon’s theft, competed in the very same race, finishing in 80th position some eight and a half minutes adrift of her teammate.
Fellow Frenchwoman Lou Jeanmonnot secured silver, missing two targets and crossing the line 53 seconds behind Simon.
As Simon completed her winning run, she raised a finger to her lips in a gesture directed at an unnamed individual.
“I put my finger to my mouth, it was for one person and they know who because we had a talk,” she explained. “But I won’t tell any more about it, it’s over.”
Speaking to Eurosport following her victory, Simon addressed the scrutiny surrounding her participation.
Julia Simon’s inclusion at the Winter Olympics was already shrouded in controversy
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“Now, I’d like to be left alone, honestly, because I read some things last night that weren’t pleasant,” she said.
“I proved I belong here today, and I had even proven myself before. I don’t have anything left to prove to anyone, and now I’d like to be left alone to do my biathlon.”
She insisted relations within the French camp had been repaired.
“The past is behind us within the team. We’ve talked things through. Now, we’re here to win medals, to do biathlon. Today, we showed that again.”
