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France's Océane Michelon and Julia Simon won gold and silver respectively in the women's biathlon 12.5-kilometre mass start race the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics on Saturday. Czech biathlete Tereza Vobornikova had to settle for bronze after being overtaken by the French powerhouse team, finishing 7.4 seconds behind Michelon.
Issued on: 21/02/2026 - 16:04Modified: 21/02/2026 - 16:08
By: FRANCE 24 France's Julia Simon and Océane Michelon and Czech Republic's Tereza Vobornikova pose after competing in the women's biathlon at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games on February 21, 2026. © Odd Anderson, AFP In the final biathlon event of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, France's Océane Michelon overcame a missed target in the final shooting stage in the 12.5-kilometre mass start race to take gold.
In heavy snow and low visibility, Michelon left the range in fourth place but moved ahead on the ski trails to complete the five laps in 37 minutes, 18.1 seconds.
Michelon's teammate, Julia Simon, also moved up in the final 2.5 kilometres, crossing the finish line 6.6 seconds back and securing the silver medal. Czech biathlete Tereza Vobornikova had been leading after the final shooting but had to settle for bronze after being overtaken by the French powerhouse team, finishing 7.4 seconds behind Michelon.
France's Oceane Michelon celebrates after winning gold in the women's biathlon during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games on February 21, 2026. © Franck Fife, AFP Anna Magnusson of Sweden, the only biathlete to hit all 20 of her targets, finished fourth, 26.6 seconds back.
Italy's Dorothea Wierer, favoured by the fans who roared with excitement each time she hit a target, missed two, and at one point was sitting in 16th place, but she cleaned her last standing shooting and crossed the line 30 seconds back in fifth place.
Wierer, who turns 36 in April, had announced her plans to retire after these Olympics, along with Germany's Franziska Preuss, who finished 28th with seven misses. Wierer and Preuss held small flags and skied a short loop together in front of the packed stands, and then celebrated their final race with champagne.
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Olympic mass start defending champion Justine Braisaz-Bouchet of France finished a disappointing 27th place, 3:12.2 back, after missing six targets.
Only the top 30 biathletes compete in the mass start race – based on World Cup rankings and Olympic performance. They ski five, 2.5-kilometer loops, shooting twice in the prone position and twice standing.
Anne Buenemann de Besche was the first Danish female biathlete to qualify for an Olympic mass start. She finished in 29th place.
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