Julia Simon to Anchor France’s Mixed Relay at 2026 Winter Olympics
- The French biathlon team is poised for a strong showing at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, with a team composition now finalized for the mixed relay event.
- Julia Simon will anchor the mixed relay, a decision made after her recent performance at Nove Mesto na Morave, where she won the mass start event.
- The relay will begin with Eric Perrot, currently leading the men’s World Cup standings.
The French biathlon team is poised for a strong showing at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, with a team composition now finalized for the mixed relay event. The announcement, made by the French Olympic Committee (CNOSF) on , reveals a lineup intended to maximize medal potential.
Julia Simon will anchor the mixed relay, a decision made after her recent performance at Nove Mesto na Morave, where she won the mass start event. This selection comes ahead of Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, despite Braisaz-Bouchet’s win in the individual short race at the same event. The French team’s strategy prioritizes Simon’s demonstrated finishing strength and recent form.
The relay will begin with Eric Perrot, currently leading the men’s World Cup standings. He will be followed by Quentin Fillon Maillet, a double Olympic champion from the Beijing Games and then Lou Jeanmonnot, who currently leads the women’s World Cup. This order aims to leverage the strengths of each athlete throughout the 4x6km mixed relay.
The decision to place Simon as the final leg reflects confidence in her ability to secure a strong finish. Stéphane Bouthiaux, head of French biathlon, explained that the composition “coule un peu de source” – meaning it felt like a natural progression given the athletes’ current standings and strengths. He highlighted the team’s possession of “the two leaders of the general classification of the World Cup,” Fillon Maillet’s reliability in relays, and Simon’s finishing capabilities.
France has a history of success in the biathlon mixed relay, winning gold at the Pyeongchang Games and silver at the Beijing Games. They are also the current world champions, having won the title in both and . This track record positions them as strong contenders for a medal in Milan-Cortina.
However, the team’s preparation hasn’t been without challenges. Julia Simon faced a three-month suspended prison sentence in the autumn for theft and bank card fraud, admitting to using the credit card of Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and a team physiotherapist. She was suspended for one month in November but has since regained her competitive form, stating she is “in the timings” to contend for an individual medal at the Olympics.
Despite this past issue, the French team is entering the Olympics with high expectations. Bouthiaux believes the team has the potential to reach the podium in every race, and the “Dream Team” composition for the mixed relay is expected to be a significant force against competitors such as Italy, Sweden, and Norway.
The mixed relay is the first of 11 biathlon events scheduled for the Milan-Cortina Games, taking place in Anterselva, Italy. The French team’s performance in this event will set the tone for their overall campaign and signal their medal ambitions for the remainder of the competition.
The selection of Simon over Braisaz-Bouchet underscores the competitive nature within the French biathlon squad and the emphasis on selecting athletes based on current form and strategic considerations. The team’s leadership clearly believes Simon’s recent mass start victory provided the decisive edge needed for the anchor leg of the mixed relay.