The French women’s biathlon team claimed gold at the 2025 Biathlon World Championships, exhibiting outstanding performance and teamwork during the 4x6 km relay held on February 22, 2025, in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. The triumphant squad, comprising Lou Jeanmonnot, Oceane Michelon, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, and Julia Simon, not only defended their title but did so with remarkable dominance, leaving competitors far behind.
Julia Simon anchored the victorious squad, capping off the race with stellar shooting. She hit all ten of her shots, ensuring France's commanding lead was never challenged, crossing the finish line with arms raised high and the French flag waving. The victory marked France’s sixth gold medal at the championships, bringing their total medal count to eleven.
The competition saw Simon celebrated not just for her performance, but also for her demeanor as she cruised through the final leg. With the crowd cheering, she even took the moment to salute her fans. "Lou [Jeanmonnot] put the relay in orbit for us from the first lap in quite an incredible way," said Cyril Burdet, the coach of the French biathlon team, reflecting on how his athletes executed their race plans superbly.
Jeanmonnot initiated the relay with exceptional speed, hitting all her targets and handing over the baton with a significant lead. She passed the baton to Oceane Michelon, who maintained the momentum by shooting cleanly and extending the lead to 48 seconds at one point. Braisaz-Bouchet then tackled her leg with the confidence of having built such a margin for the team. Known as the world sprint champion, her strong performance contributed to solidifying their first-place position even after facing some shooting challenges.
France's stronghold on the podium continued with Simon's performance, finishing the relay with a final time of 1:07:26.5, more than one minute clear of the silver medalists from Norway and 40 seconds ahead of Sweden, who took home bronze. The representational success of the French team was bolstered by their history of strong performances, as they had previously secured gold medaling at last year's championships and consistently placed within the top tier of the world rankings.
Coaches and analysts expressed pride over the team’s resilience and consistency, particularly after they struggled earlier this season, not achieving any relay victories leading up to the championships. "We are sharper than last year, we had no penalty loops today and it felt easy," Braisaz-Bouchet remarked, encapsulating the team's refined approach to the relay and the distinct improvements they had made since the last competition.
The atmosphere at Lenzerheide was electric, with fans lining the course, waving flags, and providing noise best suited for the high-stakes environment of the World Championships. "These were full races, there were only four picks. Lou Jeanmonnot put the team in orbit and then each of them did their biathlon," noted shooting coach Jean-Paul Giachino, highlighting the synchronized efforts made by all four members of the French squad.
While the focus was on the French women’s exceptional achievement, the men’s 4x7.5 km relay was also set to take place later on the same day, which would determine if France could continue its streak of medal wins through the championships. With several races remaining, enthusiasts and analysts anticipated whether the French team could surpass their impressive medal haul from previous years.
Overall, France’s dominance at the Biathlon World Championships offered not only gold but served as a display of athleticism, strategy, and mental strength exhibited under competitive conditions. The accomplishment holds historical significance within the sport, not only affirming the strength of the individual athletes involved but also highlighting the cohesive strength of the French biathlon women's team as they strive to evolve and perform at the highest level.
Indeed, as Coach Burdet succinctly stated, “We know very well medals and titles at this level are very difficult to win, so we mustn’t trivialize this kind of emotion.” With the momentum now firmly on their side, the situation poised the French biathlon athletes for potential historic achievements as the World Championships continued.