Simon wins gold after credit card fraud convictionImage source, ReutersImage caption, Julia Simon won her second Olympic gold in four daysByHarry PooleBBC Sport journalistPublished11 February 2026French biathlete Julia Simon won Olympic gold less than four months after being convicted of committing credit card fraud against a national team-mate.Simon held a finger to her mouth as she crossed the finish line of the women’s 15km individual race to win her second gold medal of the Milano-Cortina Games, as her victim, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, finished 80th.The 29-year-old was handed a three-month suspended prison sentence, external and fined 15,000 euros (£13,000) for credit card fraud and theft in October, leaving her Olympic participation in doubt.
She was accused of using the bank card of France team-mate Braisaz-Bouchet and that of a French team physiotherapist to make online purchases totalling more than €2,000 (£1,371).
Simon admitted to “the entirety of the facts” before an Albertville criminal court, external and apologised to her victims.
“I can’t explain it. I don’t remember doing it. I can’t make sense of it,” she reported during the hearing, as quoted by local newspaper Le Dauphine Libere.
