Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Laegreid admitted live to tell the tale television to cheating on his now ex-girlfriend, shortly after winning a bronze medal on the Winter Olympics, within the hopes of regaining her affection.
The 28-year-old said an affair he had three months ago was his “biggest mistake.”
He said it had been the worst week of his life since telling his ex-girlfriend, who he dated for six months about his infidelity, and that he hoped admitting to his mistake on television would show her how sorry he’s.
“There’s someone I desired to share it with who may not be watching,” he told Norway’s state broadcaster, NRK.
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“Six months ago, I met the love of my life — essentially the most beautiful and kindest person on the earth. Three months ago, I made my biggest mistake and cheated on her,” he said.
“I had the gold medal in life, and I’m sure there are a lot of individuals who will see things in another way, but I only have eyes for her,” he continued.
“Sport has come second these previous couple of days. Yes, I wish I could share this together with her,” Laegreid added.
Sturla Holm Laegreid, of Norway, gets the bronze medal for the boys’s 20-kilometer individual biathlon race on the 2026 Winter Olympics in Anterselva, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026.
AP Photo/Andrew Medichini
In a later interview, he told Norwegian newspaper VG that the “only option to solve it’s to inform every part and put every part on the table, and hope that she will still love me.”
“I’ve done that for her, and now for the entire world. I even have nothing to lose,” he said. “I need to be a great role model, but I even have to confess after I make mistakes.”
Laegreid is a seven-time world champion biathlete, a sport that mixes cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. His bronze medal win follows a gold within the relay on the 2022 Games.
During a press conference after his admission, he told reporters he hoped he hadn’t ruined fellow teammate and gold medallist Johan-Olav Botn’s day.
“I don’t know if it was the best selection or not, but it surely was the selection I made,” he said.
“I made the selection to inform the world what I did so possibly there’s a likelihood she is going to see what she really means to me — possibly not, but I don’t wish to think I didn’t try every part to get her back,” he told reporters.
“I don’t wish to steal the show. I hope that is identical to a day-or-two thing. You then are an Olympic gold medallist ceaselessly.”
Five-time Olympic champion Johannes Thingnes Bøe, a former teammate of Laegreid and now an authority correspondent at NRK, questioned the timing of Laegreid’s admission.
“It got here as an entire surprise. His motion was unsuitable — we saw a repentant lad standing there. Unfortunately, the time, place and timing are all unsuitable,” Boe said.
It’s unclear if Laegreid’s ex-girlfriend heard his on-screen mea culpa.
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