A Norwegian Olympic bronze medallist, Sturla Holm Lægreid, has stirred global reactions after breaking down in tears and confessing to cheating on his girlfriend during a live television interview shortly after winning his medal.
Lægreid, 28, won bronze in the men’s 20km individual biathlon event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. However, rather than focusing on the celebration of his achievement, the athlete shocked viewers when he admitted during his post-race interview that he had been unfaithful to his partner.
Speaking with Norwegian broadcaster NRK, Lægreid said he met his girlfriend about six months ago but cheated on her three months into the relationship, describing the act as the “biggest mistake” of his life.
The visibly emotional athlete disclosed that he confessed to her a week before the Olympic race and described the period leading up to the Games as the worst week of his life.
According to him, he chose to speak publicly because he wanted to be a good role model, stressing that people must admit their mistakes, especially when they hurt those they love.
Lægreid also admitted that his personal struggles had affected his focus on sport in recent times.
In the race, Lægreid finished third behind Norway’s Johan-Olav Botn, who claimed gold, while France’s Éric Perrot secured silver.
