Julia Simon had until Friday's trial in Albertville claimed her innocence. But once on site in southeastern France, the 29-year-old chose a different path and acknowledged the actual circumstances of the case.
There were no financial motives for my actions. Today, I just take one day at a time, because standing before you will have consequences for my career. It was ridiculous and stupid, because I didn't need to, said Simon according to the newspaper Dauphiné Libéré.
LATER in the afternoon, the court also announced that Simon is sentenced to three months' conditional imprisonment and a fine of 15,000 euros (equivalent to just over 160,000 kronor), reports the newspaper.
Simon was reported to the police in 2022 by her national team colleague Justine Braisaz-Bouchet for using her bank card and making purchases for tens of thousands of kronor. The investigators believed that Simon had also cheated two more people. One of them was a physiotherapist linked to the French national team.
In court, it emerged that the victims had tried to reach a settlement and a repayment solution with Simon. When it didn't work, the case ended up in court.
The prosecution demanded two months' conditional imprisonment and a fine of 20,000 euros (just over 218,000 kronor).
Julia Simon has nonetheless continued with her athletic career. At the World Championship in Switzerland in the spring, she took four gold medals and is now one of the biggest Olympic Games favorites in Milan and Cortina in February.
