Biathlon: Lotte Lie makes Belgian history
On Wednesday, Belgian biathlon experienced an intense moment of happiness thanks to Lotte Lie. Nineteenth in the individual race, dominated by France’s Julia Simon, the Belgian simply achieved her country’s best-ever individual result at the Olympic Games.
I’m really happy with the race,” she said in a press release from Belgium Biathlon. Two days ago, I thought I wouldn’t be able to run and, on the eve of the race, I told myself that I wouldn’t be satisfied if I didn’t give it a go. I had to try. Once I got going, it wasn’t so bad and I was able to concentrate on shooting. I exceeded all my expectations.
In fact, if it hadn’t been for her missed ball in the last standing shot, Lotte Lie would have taken eighth place in this first individual race of the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games, scoring a resounding top 10 finish.
On Saturday and Sunday, she will have two other chances to shine in the sprint and pursuit, also contested by Maya Cloetens (33rd in the individual at 18/20) and Eve Bouvard (83rd in the individual at 15/20).
- Races, training sessions, shooting trials, ceremonies: the full programme for the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games
- 2026 Olympic Games: the full biathlon programme for the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games
- Anterselva Biathlon Arena: everything you need to know about the Antholz venue, which will host the biathlon events at the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games
- Caroline Colombo: my best memory of… Antholz-Anterselva
- Pierre Mignerey, FFS National Technical Director, outlines the French team’s ambitions for the 2026 Olympics: “It’s clear that we expect the biathletes to be on the podium”.
- Coaches, physiotherapists, physical trainers, press officers, technicians: what kind of support will the French team have at the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games?
- With Eric Perrot, Quentin Fillon-Maillet, Lou Jeanmonnot and Julia Simon: France announces its mixed relay quartet
- “For my personal preparation, I thought it made more sense to do the third relay”: why Lou Jeanmonnot didn’t want to complete the Olympic mixed relay
- “It all seems quite logical”: Corinne Niogret, 1992 Olympic champion in the women’s relay, explains the composition of the French mixed relay.
- How Simon Fourcade and Cyril Burdet justify the order of the mixed relay and the selections of Quentin Fillon-Maillet and Julia Simon
- Camille Bened at the start of the individual race, Océane Michelon in the sprint
- “If the first race goes well, it’s easy to follow it up”: the mixed relay, a golden opportunity for France to kick off the Olympic fortnight with a bang
- “Everything I’ve seen, experienced and felt means I’m starting these Games a little less naked”: what Peiserot Eric Perrot takes away from his experience as a substitute at the 2022 Olympics.
- Medal records, stars of the fortnight, ambitions: all the issues at stake at the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games with Delphyne Burlet
- Eric Perrot, Quentin Fillon-Maillet, Lou Jeanmonnot and Julia Simon crowned Olympic mixed relay champions in Antholz
- “Crazy”, “Magical”, “Incredibly beautiful”: the emotion and joy of Eric Perrot, Quentin Fillon-Maillet, Lou Jeanmonnot and Julia Simon, Olympic champions in the mixed relay
- Julia Simon, Lou Jeanmonnot and Eric Perrot join the closed circle of French Olympic champions
- Gold medallist for the third time at the Olympic Games, Quentin Fillon-Maillet becomes the equal of Jean-Claude Killy
- Yvon Mougel, world medallist in 1981 and three-time Olympian, talks about the mixed relay: “The French team played in a dream race”.
- Olympic individual silver for Eric Perrot, Norway’s Johan-Olav Botn wins at 20/20
- Eric Perrot, third Frenchman on the podium in an individual event at the Olympic Games
- First reaction from Eric Perrot, silver medallist in the individual event: “Huge satisfaction to be an individual Olympic medallist”.
- “Sivert, we did it”: an emotional gold medal for Johan-Olav Botn in the individual event
- “I only have eyes for her”: in tears after her individual Olympic medal, Sturla Holm Lægreid confesses her infidelity live on Norwegian television
- Yvon Mougel, world medallist in 1981 and three-time Olympian, recalls the men’s individual: “We’ll remember the embrace between Johan-Olav Botn and Eric Perrot”.
- “I don’t want to be in a different frame of mind”: how Camille Bened, lined up for the individual event, approaches her Olympic debut
- Julia Simon becomes Olympic individual champion, Lou Jeanmonnot silver, Camille Bened sixth
- She follows in the footsteps of Florence Baverel and Justine Braisaz-Bouchet: Julia Simon, the third French Olympic solo champion in history
- The crazy figures for the Julia Simon/Lou Jeanmonnot double in the individual event at the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games
- Julia Simon after becoming Olympic individual champion: “One of the best sporting days of my life”.
- Olympic runner-up in the individual event, Lou Jeanmonnot wants to “make the most of it”: “It’s a dream to have a silver medal around my neck”.
- “When I see she’s next to me, it’s a bit of a blow”: a last ball that hurts Camille Bened, sixth in the individual event
- Margaux Achard’s tribute to her friend and former committee team-mate Julia Simon, Olympic individual champion: “She’d wanted to tick that box for a long time”.
- Yvon Mougel, world medallist in 1981 and three-time Olympian, talks about the women’s individual: “The moisture covered my eyes”.
