Julia Simon Triumphs at Olympics Amidst Credit Card Fraud Controversy

French biathlete Julia Simon clinched gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics, a remarkable feat following a six-month suspension due to allegations of credit card fraud.

Commentator Matt Iseman quipped on February 8, “I think we’ll all be relieved she can leave her wallet at home. She won’t be buying anything,” as Simon celebrated her victory. The 29-year-old athlete did not respond to the jest.

Last year, Simon faced accusations of misusing bank cards belonging to her teammate Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and an unnamed staff member, racking up purchases exceeding 2,000 euros.

During her trial in October 2025, Simon expressed confusion over her actions, stating, “I can’t explain it. I don’t remember doing it. I can’t make sense of it.”

She emphasized her commitment to personal growth, saying, “I have entered therapy to understand all this, to grow and evolve.” In her testimony, she insisted, “There is no financial motivation for my actions. Today, I am moving forward day by day because being in front of you will have consequences for my career. It’s ridiculous and derisory because I didn’t need it.”

Ultimately, Simon was convicted of theft and credit card fraud, receiving a three-month suspended prison sentence along with a fine of $34,600. Despite the legal troubles, she participated in the 2026 Winter Olympics without interruption.

In a YouTube interview on February 3 with Biathlonworld, Simon remarked, “It’s a new start for me. With this Olympic year, I will put all my energy into training but after I will do some woodworking stuff for my house, like a table. It’s going to be a nice project to think about all the small details and to think about something else than the race.”

Simon reflected on her Olympic aspirations, stating that competing in the Games has been a long-held dream. “When you have a big goal like the Olympics, it’s easier to do more and more and more, and sometimes it can be tricky to stay focused on myself,” she noted. “My goal for the Olympics is straightforward. All athletes want a medal; it’s the only one missing for me, so I want an Olympic gold medal. This will be the first time I come to the Olympics with a big goal.”

She added, “I think I know how to manage this pressure [and] I like this pressure, also. It’s a lot of ups and downs, but [I’ve learned to] never give up and trust yourself.”

Simon expressed her excitement about living her dream and hoped for an “incredible” outcome at the Olympics.

Making her Olympic debut in 2022, she previously secured a silver medal in the Biathlon Mixed Relay. Reflecting on her racing strategy in a 2023 interview with Biathlon World, she said, “I tried to focus race after race and think about my biathlon and the next race and not about the total score. The most important thing was to try my best in the shooting range and be really focused. I’m very content with my much improved prone shooting accuracy.”