France Sweeps Gold and Silver in Olympic Biathlon Finale

Two French athletes powered through heavy snow and barely visible trails to claim the top two spots in the final biathlon race of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Océane Michelon won gold in the women's 12.5-kilometer mass start on Saturday in Milan Cortina, finishing in 37 minutes and 18.1 seconds. Her teammate Julia Simon crossed the finish line just 6.6 seconds later to take silver, while Czech Republic's Tereza Vobornikova earned bronze.

The race came down to the final 2.5 kilometers. After missing one target in the last shooting stage, Michelon left the range in fourth place but found another gear on the ski trails, passing three competitors to claim France's victory.

Simon also surged in the final stretch. Vobornikova had been leading after the final shooting round but couldn't hold off the French powerhouse duo in the challenging conditions.

Only 30 biathletes competed in the mass start race, earning their spots through World Cup rankings and Olympic performance. They skied five laps of 2.5 kilometers each, shooting targets twice while lying down and twice while standing.

Sweden's Anna Magnusson hit all 20 of her targets but finished fourth, 26.6 seconds behind Michelon. Italy's Dorothea Wierer delighted home fans by rallying from 16th place to finish fifth despite two missed shots.

Why This Inspires

The race marked the end of an era as two beloved biathletes said goodbye. Wierer, who turns 36 in April, and Germany's Franziska Preuss both announced they would retire after these Olympics.

After finishing their final race, the two veterans grabbed small flags and skied a victory lap together in front of packed stands. They celebrated their careers with champagne, receiving roaring applause from fans who had watched them compete at the highest level for years.

The moment reminded everyone that sports create something bigger than medals. Competitors who battled each other for years can share genuine respect and friendship when the racing ends.

For Denmark, the race brought a historic first. Anne Buenemann de Besche became the first Danish woman to qualify for an Olympic mass start in biathlon, finishing 29th and paving the way for future athletes from her country.

France's stunning one-two finish proved that teamwork and determination can overcome difficult conditions and missed targets.