Biathlete Julia Simon was triumphant again, winning a gold medal in the 15km individual biathlon race at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics on Wednesday, Feb. 11.
Simon missed only once during her time on the shooting range and rebounded from a penalty in the first standing stage. Her teammate, Lou Jeanmonnot, took home the silver, and Bulgaria’s Lora Hristova won bronze.
But Simon, who also won gold in biathlon mixed relay for France, is fortunate that she was able to compete in the Olympics at all.
Last October, Simon was charged and found guilty of theft and credit card fraud, accused of using the bank card of France teammate Justine Braisaz-Bouchet.
Simon racked up more than €2,000 ($2,300 USD) in online purchases and was given a three-month suspended sentence and fined €15,000 ($17,781.60 USD) by a French court.
‘I can’t explain it. I don’t remember doing it. I can’t make sense of it,’ Simon said during her trial.
The 29-year-old Simon admitted to the crime and apologized for her actions.
She was allowed to compete in Italy after the French ski federation handed her a six-month ban, including a five-month suspension. Simon received a 30,000-euro ($34,600) fine, with 15,000 euros suspended by the ski federation.
Simon won an Olympic silver medal for France in the mixed relay at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games.