Julia Simon Anchors France to Biathlon Mixed Relay Gold in Perfect Shooting Display

France claimed the first biathlon gold medal of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Sunday, dominating the mixed relay 4x6km event with a commanding performance anchored by Julia Simon's perfect shooting. The French quartet of Simon, Eric Perrot, Quentin Fillon Maillet, and Lou Jeanmonnot finished in 1:04:15, more than 25 seconds ahead of silver medalist Italy, with Germany securing the bronze medal. The victory kicked off France's biathlon campaign in spectacular fashion and announced Les Bleus as the team to beat in Nordic events at these Games.

Simon's anchor leg proved decisive, as the French star delivered when it mattered most. With the race on the line, she hit all five targets on her final shooting stage, maintaining France's lead and crushing any hopes of a late comeback from the chasing pack. Her combination of fast skiing and deadly accurate shooting under pressure exemplified championship-level biathlon, where mental fortitude can be just as important as physical conditioning. Simon's performance drew comparisons to some of the sport's all-time greats.

France dominated the second half of the race through exceptional teamwork and tactical execution. After Jeanmonnot, one of the rising stars of French biathlon, set the foundation with a strong opening leg, Perrot and Fillon Maillet extended the advantage through consistent skiing and clean shooting. The French team's strategy of aggressive early skiing combined with precise marksmanship proved too much for their rivals to overcome, even with home-crowd support pushing Italy to a valiant silver-medal performance.

The mixed relay format has become one of biathlon's most exciting Olympic events since its introduction. Each nation fields two men and two women who complete 6km legs, with two shooting stages per leg alternating between prone and standing positions. The format creates dramatic swings in positioning, as missed targets force athletes to ski penalty loops while clean shooting can vault teams up the standings. France's ability to maintain composure through 24 total shooting stages showcased their exceptional preparation.

Italy's silver medal delighted the home fans who packed the biathlon venue in force. Despite finishing 25.8 seconds behind France, the Italian team's performance exceeded expectations and demonstrated the country's growing strength in Nordic disciplines. Germany's bronze continued their nation's proud biathlon tradition, though the Germans will be disappointed not to have challenged more seriously for gold after entering as one of the favorites.

Looking ahead, France's mixed relay triumph sets the tone for what they hope will be a medal-laden biathlon program at these Olympics. With individual and team events still to come, Simon and her teammates have established themselves as the benchmark. The French biathlon federation's investment in youth development and training infrastructure has clearly paid dividends, positioning the nation as a powerhouse in a sport traditionally dominated by Scandinavian and German athletes. As the biathlon competition continues through the second week of Milano Cortina 2026, all eyes will be on whether France can convert their mixed relay success into individual gold medals.