Biathlon - Biathlon World Championship - Oberhof, Germany - February 18, 2023 Norway's Sturla Holm Laegreid before the men's 4x7.5km relay competition REUTERS/Lisa Leutner
(Milan, Italy) – An Olympic medal ceremony turned into a full-blown emotional meltdown after Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Laegreid used a live TV interview to admit he cheated on his girlfriend.
Lægreid had just won bronze in the men’s 20km individual biathlon at the Winter Olympics in Italy when he stunned viewers watching Norway’s NRK broadcast. Fighting back tears, the 28-year-old said he had met “the love of my life” six months ago — then admitted he cheated on her three months later.
He revealed he confessed the affair to her just a week earlier, calling it “the worst week of my life,” before declaring that while he won bronze on the course, he had already “lost a gold medal” in real life.
The interview only got wilder. Lægreid said he was willing to “commit social suicide” and be hated publicly if it meant proving how much he loved her, adding that he wanted to be a “good role model” by admitting his mistakes — on international television.
What started as an Olympic victory quickly turned into one of the most jaw-dropping, brutally honest post-medal interviews the Games have seen.
Girlfriend Responds
Now, his girlfriend has broken her silence.
Speaking to Norwegian tabloid VG, she said it has been “hard to forgive” him and made clear she did not ask to be dragged into a global spectacle.
“I did not choose to be put in this position, and it hurts to have to be in it. We have had contact, and he is aware of my opinions on this,” she said.
She also thanked those close to her for their support during the fallout.
“To my family and friends who have embraced me and supported me during this time. Also to everyone else who has thought of me and sympathized, without knowing who I am.”
According to reports, Lægreid had disclosed the affair to her just one week before his medal-winning performance — meaning the emotional interview came amid an already fragile situation.
What began as an Olympic celebration quickly became a viral moment that blurred the line between athletic triumph and personal reckoning — leaving fans divided over whether the confession was brave, reckless, or deeply unfair to the person at the center of it.
