MILANO CORTINA, Italy – Sturla Holm Lægreid of Norway added an extraordinary layer of personal drama to his Winter Olympics bronze medal in the men’s 20km biathlon on Tuesday, revealing in a tearful post-race interview that he had confessed to infidelity with his girlfriend just days prior.
Lægreid finished third behind compatriot Johan-Olav Botn, who took gold, and France’s Éric Perrot. He initially expressed gratitude for the support that had brought him to this moment. “It’s huge. It’s my first Olympic medal and I want to thank everyone who has helped me along the way,” he told NRK, Norway’s state broadcaster.
But the interview took an unexpected turn when Lægreid, unprompted, addressed a deeply personal struggle. “There’s someone I wanted to share this with who might not be watching today,” he said, his voice breaking with emotion. “Six months ago I met the love of my life – the world’s most beautiful and kindest person. And three months ago I made the biggest mistake of my life and cheated on her.”
He revealed he had told his girlfriend about the affair a week ago, describing it as “the worst week of my life.” “I had the gold medal in life, and I’m sure there are many who look at me with different eyes now, but I only have eyes for her,” Lægreid continued. “Sport has taken a backseat the last few days. I wish I could share this with her.”
Lægreid later told Norwegian outlet VG that he was prepared to face significant social consequences in an attempt to win back his partner. “I hope that committing social suicide might show how much I love her,” he said. “I’m taking the consequences for what I’ve done. I regret it with all my heart.”
The confession stunned viewers in Norway and quickly became a major talking point following the race. Lagkamerat Johannes Dale-Skjevdal acknowledged the situation, stating he was aware of Lægreid’s personal struggles but refrained from commenting further. Martin Uldal admitted he had noticed Lægreid seemed troubled but was unaware of the details until the interview.
“I’ve noticed he’s been a little different, but I didn’t really know why,” Uldal said. “I thought it was just nerves. It’s very sad to hear. It’s a tough situation. We’ll comfort him.”
During the medal ceremony and subsequent press conference, Lægreid continued to grapple with the weight of his revelation. He apologized to Botn, the gold medalist, “if I ruined your day,” acknowledging that his emotional outburst might have overshadowed Botn’s achievement.
“But I think he understands,” Lægreid added. “I don’t want to steal the spotlight today.”
This season has been challenging for Lægreid, who was previously omitted from the mixed relay team. Prior to Tuesday’s race, he had expressed a lack of confidence in his own performance. “I’m not going to hide the fact that I don’t have high expectations for myself,” he told NRK on Monday. “But I also understand that I’m a bit of an underdog now, given how the season has gone. I hadn’t expected to be in a position to win a medal, but that’s maybe my chance at the Olympics.”
He exceeded those expectations, delivering a strong performance with 19 successful shots out of 20. NRK’s biathlon expert, Johannes Thingnes Bø, praised Lægreid’s resilience. “Sturla hasn’t had the best season. But since he broke through, he’s been one of our best biathletes. And today he delivered when it mattered, securing two of the three medals for Norway.”
Lægreid’s confession raises questions about the intersection of personal life and athletic performance, and the pressures faced by elite athletes. His willingness to publicly address his mistake, even at the height of his Olympic success, is a testament to the depth of his remorse and his hope for reconciliation. The impact of this revelation on his relationship and his future career remains to be seen.
