Julia Simon Stars at the 2026 Winter Olympics

Julia Simon is really making a name for herself at the 2026 Winter Olympics, and it’s not just about her athletic performance.

On Wednesday, the French biathlete secured a gold medal in the women’s 15km individual event, finishing with a time of 41 minutes and 15.6 seconds. Interestingly, she missed her target goal by just one shot.

This was her second gold medal at the Milan-Cortina Games, following her first win on Sunday in the mixed team biathlon along with her teammate Lou Jeanmono. Gianmono, despite missing two targets, clinched the silver medal on Wednesday with a time of 42:08.7, whereas Bulgaria’s Laura Hristova took home the bronze at 42:20.1.

Simon’s performance in the final lap was impressive. She maintained precise aim, especially benefiting from a double mistake by Germany’s Franziska Preuss, who faltered on her fourth and final shot. This error dropped Preuss from first to ninth place, allowing Simon to clinch the win ahead of Jeanmono.

It’s remarkable how her journey has unfolded, especially given the recent controversies. Just a few months ago, Simon was caught up in a fraud scandal.

In October, Simon, who hails from Albertville, received a three-month suspended prison sentence for theft and credit card fraud after admitting to stealing credit cards from her teammate Justine Blaza Boucher and another member of the French team. She ended up spending about $2,300 on various online purchases.

Reflecting on the incident, she remarked, “I can’t explain it. I don’t remember doing it. I don’t understand it,” to a local newspaper during a hearing in Albertville.

Initially, it seemed unlikely she would compete in the Winter Olympics, but the French Ski Federation instead imposed a fine of $34,600 and a suspension of 15,000 euros, allowing her to continue competing.

This decision took effect on November 7, which meant she was eligible to participate in the World Cup events leading up to the Olympics. Prior to these Olympics, Simon had already made her mark—she won a silver medal in the mixed relay at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, collected ten world titles throughout her career, and secured third place overall in the 2025 Biathlon World Cup.