A French Olympian convicted of committing credit card fraud against a teammate has won a gold medal, beating her victim to the prize and shushing the crowd as she crossed the line.
Biathlete Julia Simon, 29, won the women’s 15km individual race to win her second gold medal of theMilano-Cortina games four months after being handed a three-month suspended prison sentence and a $29,409 (€15,000) fine for credit card fraud and theft.
Simon used French teammate Justine Braisaz-Bouchet’s and a national team physiotherapist’s card to make online purchases of more than $3921 (€2000) between 2021 and 2022.
She pleaded guilty in an Albertville court hearing last October, with photos of the credit card having been found on her phone.
Simon was reported by local French news to have not remembered committing the crimes and she couldn’t make sense of what happened.
The French Ski Federation gave the biathlete a six-month ban, five of which were suspended, and fined her $58,819 (€30,000), but half of that figure was suspended.
Julia Simon of Team France celebrates after crossing the finish line and winning a gold medal months after committing credit card fraud against a teammate. Photo / Michael Steele, Getty Images
This allowed her to compete at the Winter Olympics where she put her finger to her lips as she crossed the finish line in her first place.
Speaking to Eurosport, Simon asked that she now be left in “peace” to compete.
“I would like you to leave me be and to perform. The page has been turned within the team - we have spoken about it.”
The French athlete had already won the biathlon mixed relay at the Milano-Cortina games and is set to compete in Women’s 12.5km Mass Start near the end of the games.
