Julia Simon Leads French Team to Biathlon Relay Olympic 3rd Gold at 2026 Winter Games.
French biathlon star Julia Simon delivered a flawless anchor leg to propel France to gold in the women's 4x6km relay at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on February 18, securing the nation's first victory in the event since 1992 and capping a dominant biathlon campaign for Les Bleus.
Commanding Comeback After Early Setback
The French quartet of Camille Bened, Lou Jeanmonnot, Oceane Michelon, and Julia Simon overcame an early penalty loop by Bened on the first leg, which dropped them 55 seconds behind.
The team rebounded with exceptional shooting and skiing, using just one penalty and six spare rounds overall.Jeanmonnot clawed back significant time on the second leg, while young prodigy Michelon dominated the third leg with perfect prone shooting, handing Simon a commanding 46.9-second lead at the final exchange.
Simon then sealed the win with clean, rapid shooting—knocking down all five prone targets quickly, taking a theatrical bow, and cruising the final lap with the French flag in hand.
France finished in 1:10:22.7, winning by 51.3 seconds over silver medalists Sweden (1+7 spares) and 1:07.6 ahead of bronze medalists Norway (0+7 spares).
Simon's Golden Hat-Trick
For Simon, the victory marked her third gold medal of the Milano Cortina Games. The 29-year-old had previously anchored France to gold in the mixed relay and claimed individual success earlier in the program.
Her composed performance under pressure—turning the final leg into a victory lap—highlighted her status as one of biathlon's top performers.
Simon crossed the line beaming, waving the tricolor flag, as teammates rushed to celebrate.
The win completed a remarkable relay sweep for France at these Olympics and extended their record medal haul.
Team Effort and Historic Significance
Sweden, the defending champions, earned their third consecutive Olympic relay medal (gold in 2022, silver in 2018), anchored by Hanna Öberg. Norway rounded out the podium with strong, clean shooting.
This gold represented France's first women's relay triumph in 34 years, dating back to the event's Olympic debut era, and underscored their biathlon dominance in Anterselva.
Joyous Podium Celebration
On the podium at the Anterselva Biathlon Arena, Simon stood proudly in the center, gold medal around her neck, flanked by her teammates Bened, Jeanmonnot, and Michelon.
All four raised their arms in unison as the French national anthem played, tears and smiles mixing amid the snow-covered mountains. The moment captured team unity and national pride after a season of highs.
For Julia Simon and France, the relay gold was the crowning achievement of an extraordinary Olympic biathlon run. The legacy of this team grows stronger with every shot and stride.
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