With more than a minute lead, the French mixed relay around Julia Simon, Lou JeanMonnot, Eric Perrot and Emilia Jacquelin secured the first gold medal on Thursday at the start of the World Biathlon Championship in Lenzerheide. However, the title was on the brink after just a few meters when Simon was involved in a bad fall. Now came to light how much the 28-year-old actually worried.
Only one relay and despite a fall at the beginning of the race, the third fastest route of all starting runners: Julia Simon laid the foundation for the clear success of the French mixed season at the Biathlon World Championship on Thursday. A performance that is all the higher when you know how much Simon took the early collision with the Swede Anna Magnusson.
“To be honest, I had a total blackout at that moment,” quotes “L’équipe” Simon shortly after the finish. “I come next to the Swedish girl [Magnusson, Anm.d.Red.] And I get into a snowweh that mowed my skis and drops me. Unfortunately I also tear them with my fall, both sticks break, I get a violent blow on the head and don’t know where I live. When I start again, I call: ‘Oh, I don’t have any more sticks, can someone please help me?’ At that moment I felt very lonely, “Simon continued the emotional moment.
Biathlon star under observation
Then she trembled up to the shooting of the condition of her rifle. Fortunately, she fell forward and did not end up on her back, “that was a reflex,” the French continued. Despite some pain, however, she somehow completed a strong season.
Incidentally, Simon was still back in the winner’s interview and referred to a severe headache. According to “L’équipe”, Simon’s condition was closely observed by the association on Wednesday evening.