Biathlon: The Stands Collapsed in Front of Julia Simon During the Relay

At today’s Biathlon World Championships, the French women's relay team was in full control of the race, leaving the opposition far behind. Star athlete Julia Simon, who delivered a superb performance in the final leg by shooting perfectly in the standing position, celebrated with the French fans as she approached the finish line. In an unexpected turn of events, a section of the stands collapsed just in front of her during the celebration.

Jürg Capol, the event’s organizing official, explained that no one was injured and that the incident will prompt a review of the safety protocols around the fan zones. Swedish biathlete Elvira Öberg, who competed for Sweden and passed the area about a minute after the collapse, said she was unsure if the stands had already fallen or if she simply did not notice the commotion.

The race concluded with France taking the gold medal, Norway finishing just one minute behind to claim silver, and Sweden securing the bronze 44 seconds later.