In a span of four days, Julia Simon secured her second Olympic gold medal, a notable achievement in her athletic career.

French biathlete Julia Simon achieved an Olympic gold medal less than four months after being convicted of credit card fraud against a teammate, a fellow national team member.

As Simon crossed the finish line in the women's 15km individual race, claiming her second gold medal at the Milano-Cortina Games, she gestured by placing her finger to her lips, while her teammate and victim, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, finished in 80th place.

In October, Simon received a three-month suspended prison sentence and was fined €15,000 (£13,000) for committing credit card fraud and theft, which initially put her Olympic participation in jeopardy.

The charges against Simon stemmed from allegations that she used the bank cards of teammate Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and a team physiotherapist to make online purchases exceeding €2,000 (£1,371).

During her court appearance in Albertville, Simon acknowledged the allegations and apologized to the affected parties, taking responsibility for her actions.

When questioned about the incident during the court hearing, Simon expressed puzzlement, stating, "I don't remember doing it" and "I can't make sense of it," as reported by local newspaper Le Dauphine Libere.

The French Ski Federation subsequently imposed a six-month ban on Simon, with five months suspended, and fined her €30,000 (£26,000), of which €15,000 (£13,000) was suspended, ultimately allowing her to participate in the Winter Olympics.

On the podium, Simon was overcome with emotion as the French national anthem played, marking a significant moment in her Olympic journey.

Reflecting on her experience, Simon said, "When you're on the podium, you think about everything – the doubts, the good times, the bad times, and the people who supported you," expressing pride in her accomplishment.

Simon's choice of celebration, placing her finger to her lips, was a deliberate gesture, which she explained was intended for a specific individual, stating, "I think he knows who it is, and he's here."

The gesture was Simon's way of conveying that she is focused on her athletic pursuits, saying, "I'm here for sports, and I'm doing my best – let's talk about sports, not gossip."

In an interview with Eurosport, Simon expressed her desire to move forward, stating, "I wish for you to leave me in peace and allow me to perform."

Simon emphasized that the issue had been resolved within the team, saying, "The page has been turned – we've discussed it, and now it's time to focus on the sport."

With 10 world titles to her name, Simon also recently won a gold medal in the biathlon mixed relay, just three days prior to this achievement.

A day-by-day guide to the Winter Olympics is available for those looking to stay up-to-date on the events.

The full schedule, including medal event times, can be accessed for planning purposes.

The current Winter Olympics 2026 medal table is available for tracking the progress of participating nations.