Biathlon: Julia Simon Wins Gold in Women's 15km Biathlon

Simon's nerves of steel yield Olympic Gold

Julia Simon of France wins gold in women's 15km biathlon at Winter Olympics, with teammate Lou Jeanmonnot taking silver and Lora Hristova securing bronze for Bulgaria.

“I'm tense because I really want to go for it, very proud of myself on skis, a...”

Julia Simon of France has won the women's 15km individual biathlon gold at the Winter Games, overcoming a single shooting miss with a strong skiing performance. This adds to her mixed relay victory, showcasing her exceptional skills. Simon's teammate, Lou Jeanmonnot, took silver, 53.1 seconds behind, while Lora Hristova surprised everyone with a bronze for Bulgaria.

Simon showed remarkable composure, improving from 21st in Beijing to top of the podium in Anterselva. She credited her mental strength and strategy for the win, saying it was a “great team effort” and she's “very, very happy” with her performance.

Julia Simon's composure was the standout factor in her improvement from 21st place in Beijing to top of the podium in Anterselva. The 29-year-old peaked at the right time for the Milan Cortina Olympics, displaying nerves of steel to lead France to victory in the mixed relay.

Simon had a slow start to the season, but she turned it around in time for the Olympics. She anchored the France team to victory, showcasing her mental strength and skill on the shooting range.

Julia Simon dominated the 15km individual biathlon, overcoming a single shooting miss to secure gold with her powerful skiing. “It's incredible, it's incredibly emotional. It's come full circle, one of the best sporting days of my life,” she shared with French TV 

Simon, a French biathlete, showed impressive mental strength, improving from a 21st-place finish in Beijing to top of the podium in Anterselva. Her compatriot Lou Jeanmonnot took silver, while Lora Hristova surprised with a bronze for Bulgaria.

The biathlon event had top-ranked racers starting at 30-second intervals, with the field bunched in the middle of the pack. Competitors skied five 3km laps, stopping four times at the range to alternate between prone and standing shooting positions. This format made for an intense competition, with Simon's composure and skill paying off in the end.

🥇 Incredible momentum and marksmanship earns Julia SIMON the #Gold medal in the biathlon women's 15km individual event 👏

It is her second #Gold of #MilanoCortina2026, making her the first french women to win two Olympic gold medals in Biathlon 🥇 🥇

What a day for Julia 🤩… pic.twitter.com/990sy9a6Vn

— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) February 11, 2026

The winner's precision and speed are tested in this biathlon event, with each shooting miss adding a one-minute penalty. Many top contenders struggled with the pressure and tough snowy conditions, but Simon stayed focused.

Unlike her Beijing performance, Simon kept her cool, brushing off a single miss to secure the win with her strong skiing. Her nerves of steel paid off in the end.

“Four years ago, I completely collapsed on that last shoot because I couldn't handle the pressure, because I didn't have what it takes. Today, I got my revenge, and it's incredible,” she beamed.

Lou Jeanmonnot gave it her all, but a second shooting miss ultimately cost her the top spot. She couldn't close the gap on Simon on the final lap. Despite taking silver, Jeanmonnot was left wanting more, though she's happy for her teammates.

“It's a mixed bag because on skis I'm doing very, very well, but conversely, on the shooting ‌range, I'm putting a bit of pressure on myself,” she said.

“I'm tense because I really want to go for it, very proud of myself on skis, a little less so on the shooting range.”

Women's Biathlon Results

Lora Hristova brought immense joy to Bulgaria by winning a bronze medal in the women's 15km individual biathlon event at the Winter Olympics. She shot flawlessly, hitting all 20 targets, and secured Bulgaria's first biathlon medal since Irina Nikulchina's bronze in 2002.

Hristova, just 22 years old, made history with her impressive performance, finishing behind Julia Simon and Lou Jeanmonnot of France. This achievement marks Bulgaria's eighth medal at the Winter Olympics and third in biathlon, following Ekaterina Dafovska's gold in 1998 and Nikulchina's bronze in 2002.