Biathlon | How Julia Simon experienced her first World Cup race of the winter: “It was a bit like releasing the wild animals, it was electric”

Biathlon: a positive first for Julia Simon

Early on Saturday afternoon, Julia Simon, accompanied by Quentin Fillon-Maillet, climbed onto the first podium of her biathlon World Cup winter. In the mixed singles relay in Kontiolahti (Finland), France was only beaten by Sweden, who won thanks to Sebastian Samuelsson‘s magnificent final shot.

“We couldn’t wait. It was a bit like releasing the wild animals, it was electric, she told Nordic Magazine a few minutes after the official ceremony. It’s a demanding and very fast race where you always have to push.”

As for her feelings, Julia Simon explained that they were “pretty good”. “I’m happy with the result, she adds. I did my race and it’s true that the reference points came back quite quickly. There are positives and there’s still room for improvement.”

On the positive side, La Beaufortaine rates her “legs that respond well”. Where there was room for improvement was her shot. “It was very electric [in this format], so I need to calm things down for the rest of the race”, she says. Whatever happens, “all the lights are on green”, says the winner of the Crystal Globe in 2023.

• Kontiolahti: Quentin Fillon-Maillet and Julia Simon second in the mixed singles relay behind Sweden and ahead of Germany
• The full programme for the Kontiolahti World Cup, the first stage of the 2024/2025 season
• Corinne Niogret: my best memory of… Kontiolahti
• The French mixed relays lining up for Saturday’s World Cup opener in Kontiolahti
• Kontiolahti: an opening day without Johannes Thingnes Boe, Hanna Oeberg, Endre Stroemsheim, Anna Gandler, Sturla Holm Lægreid, Johannes Kuehn or Tarjei Boe
• Kontiolahti: the reasons why the French men’s team is starting the World Cup with just four biathletes
• Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet and Antonin Guigonnat victorious, Italy triumphant, Martin Fourcade rested: what happened the last time mixed World Cup races were held in Kontiolahti
• Top 3 nations cup target for France: the hunt for Olympic quotas for Milan/Cortina 2026, the other key issue of the 2024/2025 season

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