Biathlon: the day after the women’s relay, an MRI check-up for Julia Simon
On Sunday evening, Julia Simon from Savoie was left on the second step of the podium of the women’s biathlon World Cup relay in Kontiolahti (Finland). A few minutes earlier, on the final climb up the big hill of the Finnish course, she had suddenly had to stop her effort, struck down by a sharp pain in her left calf that had appeared during her second lap of cross-country skiing.
The courageous biathlete from Les Saisies (Savoie) still managed to reach the finish line, giving her team-mates Lou Jeanmonnot, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and Sophie Chauveau a podium finish.
“I hope it’s just a cramp. We’re going to wait for it to cool down and do some tests, she told La Chaîne L’Equipe in the mixed zone. I already have a little weakness there because I tore it in 2018. I had it in the second round, and I managed to adapt on the skis until this last wall. It’s so steep and so demanding […] that I couldn’t stand on the front of my foot any more. It was too painful.”
No worries or alarmism among the staff
This Monday morning, Nordic Magazine learned from Stéphane Bouthiaux, director of the French biathlon teams, that Julia Simon was due to undergo a follow-up MRI scan early this afternoon. “She seems to be feeling better this morning,” he said of the health of the winner of the Crystal Globe for the 2022/2023 season.
So it’s understandable that, at the moment, the case of the reigning world champion in the sprint and pursuit is not inspiring any undue concern or alarmism among the French staff. “We’re hoping it’s just a cramp”, Cyril Burdet was still saying on Sunday evening.
Don’t forget that Julia Simon is due to don her race number again on Wednesday for the individual short (start at 4.20pm).
- Julia Simon gives news of her left calf after the Kontiolahti relay: “I hope it’s just a cramp”.
- Julia Simon, walls are springboards
- After the opening relays, what is the programme for the second week of the Kontiolahti World Cup?
