Winter Olympian Claims Gold Medal Months After Credit Card Fraud Conviction
French biathlete Julian Simon has secured a remarkable gold medal victory at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, achieving this triumph less than four months after receiving a suspended prison sentence for robbing her own teammate.
A Controversial Victory Amid Legal Troubles
The 29-year-old world champion stormed to victory in the women's individual 15km race, claiming her second gold medal of these Games after previously winning the mixed relay three days earlier. Bulgaria's Lora Hristova earned bronze, while Simon's French teammate Lou Jeanmonnot took silver in the closely contested event.
However, Simon's victory comes with significant controversy. In October 2025, the athlete was found guilty of stealing credit cards belonging to teammate Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and a French team staff member. She used the cards to make online purchases totaling more than €2,000 (£1,371).
Legal Consequences and Team Dynamics
Simon admitted to credit card fraud and theft in an Albertville court, receiving a three-month suspended prison sentence and a €15,000 (£13,117) fine. During her hearing, she stated: 'I can't explain it. I don't remember doing it. I can't make sense of it.'
The court also imposed a six-month competition ban, though five months were suspended, allowing Simon to return to competition and qualify for the Winter Olympics. Meanwhile, Braisaz-Bouchet, the victim of Simon's theft, finished 80th in the same event, trailing the gold medalist by eight and a half minutes.
Simon's Response to the Controversy
Following her gold medal victory, Simon addressed the ongoing controversy during an interview with Eurosport: 'Now, I'd like to be left alone, honestly, because I read some things last night that weren't pleasant. 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 continued: '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. There are so many emotions. I thank my family, my friends, everyone who supported me. Today, it's come full circle. This is one of the best sporting days of my life.'
Broader Context in Winter Olympic Biathlon
Simon's story represents the second major controversy to emerge from biathlon at these Games. Norwegian competitor Sturla Holm Laegreid recently admitted to cheating on his girlfriend immediately after winning a bronze medal earlier in the week. Laegreid described his confession as 'social suicide' in an attempt to reconcile, though the woman involved has stated it will be 'hard to forgive' him.
The French biathlon team now faces the complex challenge of celebrating Simon's athletic achievement while navigating the ethical questions surrounding her recent criminal conviction. The situation highlights the intersection of elite athletic performance, personal conduct, and team dynamics in high-pressure international competition.
