Dhe ski hunter Julia Simon is feared at the world’s shooting ranges, and biathlon enthusiasts are in awe of her rapid-fire skills. But as soon as this 29-year-old biathlete leaves the trail, she is hardly recognizable. The cold-snout woman at the sporting weapon suddenly seems friendly, reserved, almost shy, or in other words: like a very pleasant person who doesn’t let the punishments of this world bother her.
Now this: If you will, the industry leader in her guild will be faced with a new variant of the penalty loop in the coming days. The ten-time world champion from France has been banned by her association from the start of the biathletes’ World Cup in Östersund, Sweden, because of a grotesque matter. The so-called credit card affair even resulted in a court case in which Simon ultimately pleaded guilty.
:Criminal law instead of penalties
There is a dispute in the French biathlon team over a strange suspicion: Did world champion Julia Simon steal 1,620 euros from Olympic champion Justine Braisaz-Bouchet by stealing her credit card?
There would be all sorts of reasons for euphoria among France’s biathletes before the start of this Olympic season. They are by far the strongest team and have a number of medal candidates: Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, Lou Jeanmonnot and Océane Michelon, like Simon, are going into the winter as the current relay world champions, four women who can have a lot of confidence. Jeanmonnot, for example, who probably has a score to settle with the German Franziska Preuß after losing the sprint for the overall World Cup victory against the Ruhpolding native in March. Or Braisaz-Bouchet, whose trophy case is almost as well stocked as Simon’s. If it weren’t for this internal team theater, with the two of them as protagonists. And as if a bad-tempered dramaturg had written it all, other roles have now been assigned.
The story begins at the beginning of August 2022 in the city of Sandnes in Norway: The then 27-year-old Simon is said to have stolen the credit card of her teammate Braisaz-Bouchet, who was the same age, during the roller ski event there in order to use it to spend a four-digit sum on internet purchases. In 2022, Braisaz-Bouchet reported Simon because of this. As a result, the credit card was used to purchase, among other things, products from a sports camera manufacturer, which were soon delivered to Simon’s private address.
When the allegations became known, an obscure chain of events developed. Simon denied the crimes and stated that she herself had been a victim of identity theft. That seemed plausible because it involved small sums that were out of proportion. However, Braisaz-Bouchet stood her ground and it all culminated in a trial during which Simon admitted the crimes at the end of October this year.
National coach Cyril Burdet is apparently reaching his limits
It came before the criminal court in Albertville: Simon admitted that she had purchased goods worth around 2,500 euros online using stolen credit card details from Braisaz-Bouchet and a team physiotherapist. Other team members were also affected, but did not file a complaint. In court, Simon apologized to those affected, but left questions unanswered. “I don’t remember committing these acts,” she said. There were “no financial motives”; French investigators announced that her assets at the time were around 320,000 euros. When the prosecutor asked why she had photos of Braisaz-Bouchet’s bank cards, Simon replied: “I’m kind of having a blackout.” She couldn’t imagine doing something like that again. She has been working with a therapist for a good three years.
Simon was given a three-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 15,000 euros. The French Ski Association soon initiated the sporting penalty round: she received a six-month ban, five of which were suspended. Simon will therefore miss the competitions in Östersund and will be able to compete at the World Cup in Hochfilzen in mid-December and also at the Winter Olympics in February. The fuss about the French biathletes could end with this. But the next act is already underway in the team.
Dem Portal Dicodusport According to reports, there was another attempt at fraud within the French women’s team at the end of last winter. Accordingly, Youth Olympic champion Jeanne Richard, 23, is said to have manipulated the rifle of her teammate Océane Michelon, the same age, and was caught red-handed. Namely by Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, who – if things are right – will become the team’s internal supervisor. The association waived any official consequences, but Richard was absent for unknown reasons at the start of summer preparation before she recently declared herself. “We have clarified the issue internally. For me, the matter has been checked off and we are moving forward,” she said. Teammate Michelon said it directly: “It’s like she said.”
National coach Cyril Burdet is not to be envied in this tricky situation. The quarrels are said to have finally pushed him to his limits. It is uncertain whether he will continue, despite all his sporting successes.