France wins first Milano Cortina 2026 gold in mixed relay biathlon, Simon delivers

Julia Simon delivered a flawless anchor leg to seal France’s first gold medal at Milano Cortina 2026. Racing on February 8, the French biathlon team dominated the mixed relay to reclaim their crown from PyeongChang 2018.

Simon’s Ice-Cold Shooting Powers France to Triumph

Julia Simon’s remarkable composure under pressure defined this dominant performance. Taking the anchor leg with a 19-second lead, she faced mounting stress at the prone and standing shooting ranges. Her response was clinical: zero penalties across both stages. According to Biathlon World, Simon admitted that when she reached the standing mat, she stayed laser-focused. “When I went to ski the last loop, I thought, ‘It’s done, now you can enjoy’,” she recalled.

The French anchor’s confidence stemmed from meticulous race preparation. Simon knew exactly what her squad needed to win gold. She extended France’s advantage down the final stretch, crossing in 1:04:15.5 to secure the first biathlon medal of these Games. The team used just seven spares total across all four legs.

Building the Foundation: Perrot, Maillet, and Jeanmonnot Deliver

Eric Perrot opened with world No. 1 standing, starting clean while facing pressure from Norway. Quentin Fillon Maillet then inherited a three-second deficit to the Norwegian leaders, skiing powerfully to maintain the deficit. According to Olympics.com, this second leg was crucial for setting up the breakthrough moment.

Lou Jeanmonnot‘s third leg transformed everything. Her flawless standing stage delivered France’s first lead of the day, and she handed Simon nearly 20 seconds on the nearest rivals. This dominant transition set the tone for the anchor’s victory sprint. For Jeanmonnot and Perrot, this moment marked their first-ever Olympic medals.

Reclaiming Gold and Making History

France claimed their third consecutive mixed relay medal at the Winter Olympics. This victory fulfilled expectations with the favored French squad delivering precisely when it mattered most. Defending champions Norway stumbled dramatically, finishing fourth as anchor Maren Kirkeeide picked up two penalties in standing. Meanwhile, Fillon Maillet extended his Olympic medal collection to six total, including his third gold. For Simon, this represented her second Olympic medal after silver in the same event four years ago.

“It is difficult to describe the emotions. It is an amazing day. I enjoyed it. It was stressful. It was more stressful to see on TV than when I was racing myself. I tried my best not to be completely crazy, but I enjoyed it a lot.”

— Eric Perrot, Gold Medalist

Why This Victory Sets the Stage for Biathlon’s Future

France’s triumph marked the opening biathlon competition at Milano Cortina 2026, held under spectacular sunny skies at the Anterselva Biathlon Arena. The home crowd cheered for Italy, yet France’s preparation and execution proved superior. Germany achieved their first-ever mixed relay Olympic bronze, reflecting the rising competitive balance across top biathlon nations. The victory showcases why France remains the standard in Olympic biathlon, combining discipline, precision shooting, and powerful skiing into one cohesive team effort.

With mixed relay serving as the opening act for biathlon at these Games, France’s dominant display set expectations high. The combination of Perrot’s world-class ability, Fillon Maillet’s veteran experience, Jeanmonnot’s tactical brilliance, and Simon’s ice-cold composure created an unstoppable force that will echo through the remaining ten biathlon events to follow.

Sources

• Olympics.com – Official coverage of France’s first gold medal victory at Milano Cortina 2026
• Biathlon World – Detailed race analysis with Julia Simon’s quotes and performance breakdown
• Reuters – Simon’s mental strength delivers glorious French relay gold coverage

Michael Brown

Michael Brown is a seasoned sports journalist bringing years of experience covering professional athletics and sporting culture. With a keen eye for breaking stories and player dynamics, this veteran journalist delivers in-depth analysis and exclusive insights from the world’s biggest sporting events. His passion for the game shines through in every story, keeping fans connected to the action both on and off the field.