Lead: At the 2026 Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics on Tuesday, Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Lægreid won bronze in the men’s 20 km and then used his post-race interview to disclose that he had cheated on his former girlfriend three months earlier. Speaking to Norway’s NRK, the 28-year-old described telling her last week and called it the hardest week of his life. He framed the public confession as an effort to win her back, saying he accepted the consequences of his actions and hoped honesty might restore the relationship.
Key Takeaways
- Sturla Holm Lægreid, 28, won the Olympic bronze in the men’s 20 km biathlon at the 2026 Milan–Cortina Games and immediately made a personal admission in his post-race interview.
- Lægreid told NRK he cheated on his ex-partner three months before the race and informed her about it one week earlier, calling that week the worst of his life.
- He described the woman as “the love of [his] life” and said he hoped public honesty might persuade her to reconcile; he did not name her.
- The athlete is a six-time Biathlon World Champion and was part of Norway’s relay gold team at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics; the 2026 bronze was his first Olympic medal this year.
- Teammates gave mixed reactions: some acknowledged awareness of a personal issue, while others said they were unaware or preferred not to comment publicly.
- Online reaction ranged from bemusement to criticism, with commentators calling the interview unusual and debating the timing and propriety of such a disclosure.
- The confession came months after the death of teammate Sivert Guttorm Bakken during a training camp in Italy, an event to which Lægreid had previously paid tribute.
Background
Sturla Holm Lægreid is among Norway’s most prominent biathletes: a six-time world champion and a member of the Norwegian relay team that won Olympic gold in Beijing in 2022. Biathlon combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting, and athletes often train and travel closely with teammates and support staff, making private matters potentially visible within the team environment. The 2026 Winter Games in Milan–Cortina have been emotionally charged for Norway’s squad after the recent death of teammate Sivert Guttorm Bakken at an Italian training camp, an event that has loomed over the team.
High-profile athletes frequently balance intense public scrutiny with performance demands; personal disclosures that surface during major events can create lasting media narratives. Athletes’ public personas also intersect with sponsorships, team harmony and national expectations—especially in Norway, where winter sports stars often hold cultural prominence. Lægreid’s decision to speak publicly about a private betrayal during an Olympic moment therefore carried both personal and professional consequences.
Main Event
Immediately after securing bronze in the men’s 20 km biathlon on Tuesday, Lægreid spoke to NRK and unexpectedly shifted from sport to personal life. He said he met the woman about six months ago and admitted to cheating three months earlier; he told her about the betrayal a week before the race. In his remarks he said, in effect, that he had once “a gold medal in life” but had lost it by his actions and that honesty on a global stage was his last attempt to make amends.
At the venue Lægreid appeared emotional and repeatedly framed his confession as acceptance of responsibility. He said he hoped the public nature of his admission might demonstrate how much she means to him, acknowledging that it could also amount to “social suicide.” He repeated that he regretted his actions and that he did not want to draw attention away from the competition or other athletes’ achievements.
Responses from fellow athletes were reserved. Johannes Dale-Skjevdal, a teammate, said some in the squad were aware of the situation but declined to elaborate on details. Johan-Olav Botn, the gold medalist in the same race, described his victory as a personal emotional moment and said Lægreid’s confession was not his concern; Lægreid immediately apologized to Botn during their exchange.
In a later press conference Lægreid reiterated that he did not know whether going public was the right decision but felt he had to try everything to make amends. He also credited a motivational video from his home club for helping him compete despite the personal turmoil of the prior week.
Analysis & Implications
Lægreid’s decision to combine a sporting milestone with a candid personal admission raises questions about the boundaries between private life and public performance for elite athletes. Public confessions can generate immediate sympathy or backlash; the net effect often depends on cultural norms, the athlete’s previous reputation and the perceived sincerity of the apology. In Lægreid’s case, his status as a decorated biathlete—coupled with Norway’s close-knit winter-sports culture—intensifies scrutiny.
From a team-management perspective, the episode may complicate locker-room dynamics and sponsor relations. Teams typically prefer to handle interpersonal matters internally to protect performance and unity; airing such issues publicly may create distractions, prompt internal policy reviews and affect future media training. For sponsors, the calculus will weigh brand values against the athlete’s competitive value and public sympathy.
There are also mental-health implications. Athletes under extreme pressure who are coping with personal crises can see performance affected positively or negatively in the short term. Lægreid’s ability to secure a medal despite emotional strain suggests resilience, but it does not diminish potential long-term emotional consequences for him, his ex-partner or teammates. Sports organizations may intensify support services and clarify guidance for handling sensitive personal disclosures in public forums.
Comparison & Data
| Year/Event | Result |
|---|---|
| 2022 Winter Olympics (Beijing) | Relay gold medal (team) |
| Biathlon World Championships (career) | Six-time world champion |
| 2026 Winter Olympics (Milan–Cortina) | Bronze, men’s 20 km (first Olympic medal this year) |
The table highlights Lægreid’s major competitive milestones to date: multiple world titles, a prior Olympic relay gold and his 2026 individual bronze. Contextualizing athletic achievements alongside personal disclosures helps explain why the interview attracted broad attention: elite athletes’ off-field actions often become part of their public narratives when they coincide with landmark performances.
Reactions & Quotes
Teammates and competitors gave short, sometimes guarded responses that reflected the sensitive nature of the matter.
“Yeah, we knew. I don’t have much to say about it. It’s good that he’s open about it… I think it’s difficult for me to comment on now.”
Johannes Dale-Skjevdal, teammate (to NRK)
Before Lægreid’s apology, the race winner emphasized the personal nature of his own achievement, underscoring how the public confession intersected with other athletes’ moments on the podium.
“[This] is none of my business… my win was first and foremost a personal and emotional victory.”
Johan-Olav Botn, gold medalist (post-race remarks)
In his interview Lægreid framed the confession as a deliberate choice to be transparent and to accept consequences.
“I told her a week ago. And it’s been the worst week of my life… I accept the consequences of what I’ve done. I regret it with all my heart.”
Sturla Holm Lægreid (to NRK)
Unconfirmed
- The identity of Lægreid’s ex-partner has not been disclosed publicly and remains unconfirmed.
- It is unclear whether the ex-partner watched the interview live or has responded publicly to Lægreid’s on-air admission.
- Reports that multiple teammates knew details of the situation are partially corroborated by one teammate’s remark but lack a comprehensive, verified account of who knew what and when.
- Any potential contractual or sponsorship consequences from the confession have not been announced and remain speculative.
Bottom Line
Sturla Holm Lægreid’s public admission immediately after winning an Olympic bronze has turned a competitive milestone into a broader human story about accountability, reputation and the fraught line between private life and public performance. The athlete’s stature amplifies the consequences—both in media attention and within his immediate sporting community.
How this episode resolves will depend on private responses (particularly from the ex-partner), team and federation boundaries, and public sentiment. For now, the incident underscores that elite sport does not shield athletes from personal mistakes, and it will likely prompt teams and sponsors to reassess guidance on handling sensitive personal matters during major events.
Sources
- NBC News — U.S. news organization reporting on the post-race interview and reactions.
- Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) — Norwegian public broadcaster; original broadcaster of Lægreid’s interview.