New Message From Norway’s Chief of Defence Sturla Holm Lægreid

Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Lægreid has made a public statement regarding his recent personal confession during the 2026 Winter Olympics, according to a new report from Norwegian outlet Nettavisen.

The update comes after Lægreid, a seven-time world champion, emotionally disclosed during a post-race interview following the men’s 20km individual biathlon event at Milan-Cortina that he had cheated on his girlfriend three months prior to the Games. He described the act as “my biggest mistake” and said it had been “the worst week of my life” since revealing the infidelity to his partner.

Lægreid, who won the bronze medal in the event, stated that he felt compelled to share the truth because he wanted to be honest with someone who might not have been watching the competition. He referred to his girlfriend as “the love of my life, the most beautiful and kindest person in the world,” and said he had met her six months before the Olympics.

After telling her about the affair, she ended their relationship. Lægreid expressed regret and acknowledged the personal consequences, saying he is not ready to give up on the relationship and hopes his public admission demonstrates his sincerity.

He emphasized that while he holds a membership in Mensa and is often seen as intelligent, he still makes poor personal decisions, stating, “Maybe I’m dumb as a rock. I’m a member of Mensa, but I still do stupid stuff.”

Lægreid said his only path forward is to be completely transparent, putting everything on the table in the hope that she might still love him. He acknowledged that he has accepted the consequences of his actions and regrets them deeply.

The biathlete also noted that his focus has shifted away from sport in recent days, saying, “Sports has taken a bit of a back seat these past couple of days,” and that he wishes he could share his Olympic medal moment with her.

Despite the personal turmoil, Lægreid continued to compete at the Games, later winning a silver medal in the men’s relay event. He has since reflected on the need to be more cautious in public statements, noting that his earlier comments attracted significant media attention and online discussion.

He acknowledged that his remarks have sometimes been misinterpreted or taken out of context, particularly in exchanges with other athletes, and said he now feels the need to carefully consider his words during media interactions.

Lægreid has indicated that he remains committed to being a positive role model but believes that includes owning up to mistakes when they occur. He stated, “I want to be a good role model, but I have to admit when I make mistakes.”

As of the latest reports, Lægreid continues to prepare for upcoming events in the biathlon season, though his immediate focus appears to be on resolving the personal situation stemming from his public confession.