A Norwegian Olympian won a bronze medal on Tuesday, then admitted to cheating on his girlfriend in a live TV interview after the event.
Sturla Holm Laegreid, 28, finished third in the men’s individual 20 km biathlon on Tuesday morning at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic Games. But he fell apart emotionally in the post-race interview.
“Six months ago I met the love of my life. The world’s most beautiful, sweetest person. And three months ago I made the biggest mistake of my life and cheated on her,” Laegreid told Norwegian broadcaster NRK.
Laegreid said he admitted his infidelity during the first week of the Olympics, adding it had been “the worst week of my life” despite winning Olympic gold in a team event earlier in the week.
“I’m sure many people now see me in a different light, but I only have eyes for her,” he continued. “I’m not quite sure what I’m trying to say by saying this now, but sport has taken a back seat in recent days. I wish I could share this with her.”
Laegreid’s countryman, Johan-Olav Botn, won the gold medal, and Laegreid realized after his comments that he may have “ruin[ed] Johan’s day” and stolen the spotlight with his revealing interview. Eric Perrot of France took silver.
“So today I made a choice to tell the world what I did, so maybe, maybe there is a chance she will see what she really means to me. Maybe not,” Laegreid said. “Maybe it was really selfish of me to give that interview. I’m not really here, mentally.”
With News Wire Services
