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Sturla Holm Laegreid won a bronze medal at the Olympics this week, but he wasn’t able to share it with one special person: a woman he recently cheated on.
The Norwegian took bronze, his first individual Olympic medal, in biathlon on Tuesday and fought back tears in an interview after the event – not about the medal but about “the biggest mistake of my life.”
“There is someone I wanted to share it with, who may not see today. Six months ago I met the love of my life – the most beautiful and kindest person in the world. Three months ago I made my biggest mistake and cheated on her,” says Laegreid to NRK in Norway.
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Sturla Holm Laegreid of Norway reacts after winning bronze as teammate Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold consoles him after the men’s 20-kilometer individual biathlon at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Anterselva, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
“I told her about it a week ago. It’s been the worst week of my life.”
Laegreid referred to the woman as his “gold medal in my life.” He was actually part of the relay team that won gold at the Beijing Olympics.
But instead of celebrating Tuesday, he was distraught, crying and hugging friends after the race. During a press conference, he explained why he decided to tell the world about his personal situation in the broadcast.
Sturla Holm Laegreid of Team Norway competes in the men’s 20 km individual medley on day four of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at the Anterselva Biathlon Arena on February 10, 2026 in Antholz-Anterselva, Italy. (Michael Steele/Getty Images)
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“That was the choice I made. We make different choices throughout our lives and that’s how we make life,” he told a room full of reporters. “So today I made a choice to tell the world what I did so maybe, maybe there’s a chance she’ll see what she really means to me. Maybe not.”
“There are probably many who look at me with different eyes, but I only have eyes for her,” he added. “The sport has taken a slightly different place in my life these past few days. Yes, I wish I could share it with her.”
In a separate media availability, Laegreid appeared to regret giving the interview as he believed he may have overtaken gold medalist Johan-Olav Botn, his Norwegian teammate.
Bronze medalist Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid reacts on the podium in the men’s biathlon 20 km individual event during the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Anterselva Biathlon Arena (Sudtirol Arena) in Anterselva (Val Pusteria) on February 10, 2026. (Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images)
“Now I hope I didn’t ruin Johan’s day. Maybe it was really selfish of me to give that interview. So yeah, I don’t know. I was, I’m a little, I don’t know… I’m not really here mentally. So yeah, we’ll see what happens.”
