• She used her teammate’s and the team physiotherapist’s credit cards to make online purchases
• She was sentenced to prison with a suspended term and fined before competing in the Olympics

French athlete Julia Simon won the Olympic gold medal in biathlon, less than four months after a court ruling found her guilty of fraud for using a teammate’s credit card.

The women’s 15-kilometer individual race at the Milano-Cortina Olympic Games saw Simon celebrate by placing her finger over her mouth as she crossed the finish line to claim her second gold, while the victim, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, finished the race in 80th place.

Simon, 29, had been sentenced last October to three months in prison with a suspended term and a €15,000 fine for fraud and theft of bank cards, raising questions about her eligibility to compete in the Olympics.

Simon had used Braisaz-Bouchet’s credit card, as well as that of one of the French team’s physiotherapists, to make online purchases exceeding €2,000.

She admitted all charges in court at Albertville and apologized to the victims, saying during the hearing: “I cannot explain what happened. I don’t remember doing it, and I cannot understand it.”

The French Ski Federation imposed a six-month suspension, five months of which were suspended, and a €30,000 fine, half of it suspended, allowing her to participate in the Olympics.

Upon receiving her gold medal, Simon shed tears on the podium during the French national anthem, saying: “There are so many emotions on the podium — you think of your doubts, your good and bad moments, and the people who helped you. I am proud of myself today.”

Explaining her gesture of celebration, she said: “It was directed at one person. I believe he knows it and he’s here. I saw a bad article last night, and I think this person should show me respect, as I do for him. Yesterday was very bad. This gesture was to show that I’m here for sport only, and that now is the time to talk about sport, not rumors.”

She added in an interview: “Honestly, I want to be left alone. I just want to perform and move forward. This chapter has been closed within the team — we’ve discussed it already.”

It is worth noting that Simon, who has won 10 world titles, claimed another Olympic gold just three days earlier in the mixed biathlon relay.