"I hope it’s just a cramp": Julia Simon narrowly loses dramatic relay finish

French biathlete Julia Simon delivered a dramatic performance in the women’s relay at the opening stage of the Biathlon World Cup. Her race turned into a test of endurance and resilience.

Details: Simon anchored the French team and began her leg in first place, holding a comfortable 30-second lead over the nearest challenger. However, everything unraveled during the final shooting bout. Simon missed one target, forcing her to take a penalty loop.

As the final lap began, Simon and Sweden’s Elvira Öberg were neck and neck, while Norway’s Ingrid Tandrevold trailed by 21.4 seconds. Despite her efforts, Simon couldn’t keep pace with Öberg and barely managed to cross the finish line, clutching her leg before collapsing in the snow. Despite the setback, Simon secured silver for France.

After the race, Simon told Nordic Mag that she finished in pain and hopes the issue is just a cramp.

Quote: "I hope it’s just cramping. We’ll see once it passes and run some tests. It’s a weak spot for me—I had a tear there back in 2018," Simon revealed.

Background: Meanwhile, the Italian biathlon team faces challenges at the start of the 2024/2025 season, as Lisa Vittozzi will miss the first World Cup stage in Kontiolahti due to back problems.