A Norwegian biathlete made headlines in Milan for more than his podium finish. After claiming bronze in the men’s 20km biathlon at the 2026 Winter Games on Tuesday, Sturla Holm Laegreid used a live television interview to admit publicly that he had been unfaithful to his partner.
Speaking to Norway’s NRK shortly after the race, the 28-year-old said the infidelity occurred three months earlier. He told her about it a week ago, and she ended the relationship. “It’s been the worst week of my life,” Laegreid said, adding that personal turmoil had overshadowed his focus on competition in recent days. “I had a gold medal in life,” he said, explaining that he still hopes to win her back.
Laegreid, a six-time world champion and Olympic relay gold medalist from 2022, described his decision to confess on air as “social suicide,” but said he wanted to demonstrate how deeply he regrets his actions. He did not identify the woman, saying only that they met about six months ago and that she is “the most beautiful and kindest person.” He also apologized to teammate Johan-Olav Botn, who won gold in the event, saying he hoped his announcement had not overshadowed the victory.
In a later interview, Laegreid said he shared the story publicly in the hope she might see how much she means to him. Some teammates were already aware of the situation, while others said they had noticed he seemed distracted in recent weeks. Biathlon analyst Johannes Thingnes Boe told reporters the confession was unexpected, calling Laegreid’s behavior wrong but noting that he appeared genuinely remorseful. Boe added that the timing and setting of the disclosure were unfortunate.
Botn’s win carried emotional weight of its own. As he crossed the finish line, he shouted the name of former teammate Sivert Guttorm Bakken, who died shortly before Christmas after struggling with the heart condition myocarditis. Botn later said he felt as though Bakken was with him during the final loop of the race and described seeing his name in first place as a deeply meaningful moment.