Olympic Biathlete Admits to Cheating on Girlfriend Moments After Winning Bronze Medal
An unusual post-race interview turned heads at the Olympics this week as one biathlon competitor made a very personal confession. Sturla Holm Lægreid, the Norwegian athlete who won bronze for the 20-kilometer individual race, told reporters unprompted that he had cheated on his girlfriend.
"Six months ago I met the love of my life," Lægreid told the Norway news outlet NRK, "and three months ago I made the biggest mistake of my life and cheated on her." The athlete broke down in tears as he began talking about his relationship, calling the unnamed woman "the most beautiful, wonderful person in the world."
The interviewer began by congratulating the 28-year-old on his first individual Olympic medal, having previously won gold for the relay race in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Now, four years later in Italy, Lægreid admitted that he has had other things on his mind.
The biathlete revealed that he told his girlfriend about the affair just in the past week, and it is all he has been able to think about. Lægreid called this "the worst week of my life," despite winning an Olympic medal. "I had a gold medal in life," he said about his ex-girlfriend.
What's an Olympic medal without someone to share it with? Lægreid expressed that he wanted to share his win with someone "who may not be watching today," but may see his public apology via Norwegian news.
At a press conference following the viral interview, Lægreid explained why he made his personal shortcomings into a public affair. The Olympian told reporters that he wanted the world to see his remorse by committing "social suicide" in the hopes that his ex-girlfriend would take him back.
Så ikke helt denne komme. Tidenes mest absurde medaljeintervju. ???? pic.twitter.com/fFwJ1B0vCO
— Daniel Vassbund (@Smoothedan) February 10, 2026
"I'm sure there are many people out there now who see me in a different light," he told the reporter from NRK, "but I only have eyes for her."
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