In March 2023, at Oslo Holmenkollen, the temple of Nordic skiing, Julia Simon lifted the crystal globe which is awarded to the best biathlete of the season. Eighteen years after Sandrine Bailly, she became the fourth French woman to achieve such a feat. A wonderful surprise for the Julbo athlete who no one, not even her, was expecting to be at this level, at this point in her career.

A FIRST WIN AT 23

The Julbo biathlete comes from the Plateau des Saisies in the French department of Savoie. Thirty years after the Winter Games in Albertville, Nordic skiing is part of the local culture. Here, in the Beaufortain massif, multiple generations have taken to their skies with the same degree of passion. Julia Simon grew up in this land steeped in history. And it was at the age of 21 in the winter of 2017 that she won her ticket to the World Cup. And the Savoy native is fast. Both on skis and at the shooting range. In a few short weeks, her destiny changed course. 5 December 2019: her first podium with 3rd place in the individual event in Ostersünd. 14 March 2020: victory in the pursuit in Kontiolathi.

She finished the season ranked 8th in the world. The future was looking bright for the young lady, who’s also a qualified carpenter, a passion she shares with Simon Desthieux (another Julbo biathlete, now retired).

A CRYSTAL GLOBE THREE YEARS LATER

This 2022/2023 season, Julia Simon definitively bossed it on the world stage of women’s biathlon and lifted the crystal globe.

To reach this Grail, the road was long for the Julbo biathlete, who has completely recovered her prone shooting technique. Two years of hard work behind the rifle but also in mental preparation to become one of the best shooters of the season.

And in biathlon, when you shoot well and ski strongly... you’re already on the front foot. A formula that looks easy on paper and that Julia executed perfectly throughout the season. A glance at the stats illustrates her clockwork consistency. Without forgetting of course her world championship title won in Oberhof in the pursuit and her bronze medal in the mass-start.

And in biathlon, when you shoot well and ski strongly... you’re already on the front foot. A formula that looks easy on paper and that Julia executed perfectly throughout the season. A glance at the stats illustrates her clockwork consistency. Without forgetting of course her world championship title won in Oberhof in the pursuit and her bronze medal in the mass-start.

We guess that's the start of a beautiful crystal collection for Julia !