(Video) “Worst Week of My Life!” Biathlon Medalist Breaks Down on Air, Admits to Cheating on Girlfriend

Sturla Holm Laegried admitted to being unfaithful to his partner after winning bronze in the men’s 20km individual biathlon.

(Video) “Worst Week of My Life!” Biathlon Medalist Breaks Down on Air, Admits to Cheating on Girlfriend

Sturla Holm Laegried broke down on air (Images via NRK TV)

In Short
  • Sturla Holm Laegreid admitted to cheating on his girlfriend during a press conference after winning a bronze medal at the Winter Olympics.
  • His girlfriend expressed difficulty in forgiving him and criticized him for putting her in the media spotlight.
  • Laegreid faced backlash for overshadowing teammate Johan-Olav Botn's gold medal win with his personal admission.

Sturla Holm Laegreid, Norwegian biathlete and 20km men’s individual bronze medalist at the Winter Olympics 2026, made international headlines with his scathing admission during his press conference following the event. The 28-year-old from Baerum confessed to cheating on his girlfriend and apologised on air as a final attempt to win back the “love of his life.”

Laegreid, one of the best active biathletes, unprompted, started by admitting that he had the worst week of his life. He told the Norwegian broadcaster NRK that he made a terrible mistake and cheated on his six-month-long girlfriend three months ago. The pair has since broken up, after he shared the details of his infidelity privately with his ex-girlfriend a week ago.

I’ve had the worst week of my life. There is something I want to share with someone who may not be watching today. Half a year ago I met the love of my life. The world’s most beautiful and nicest person. Three months ago I made the mistake of my life and cheated on her, and I told her about that a week ago. This has been the worst week of my life.

The said girlfriend has since responded, and it seems that Laegreid is not getting a second chance. The woman, who wants to remain anonymous, told the Norwegian paper VG that it’s hard to forgive him even after his public apology. She, in fact, vilified him for putting her in the headlines that she never asked for.

It is hard to forgive, even after such a public declaration of love in front of the whole world. I have not asked to be put in this position and it is hard to be there. We have had contact and he knows my feelings about this.

She also thanked her family and friends for their understanding and support during this painful time.

Sturla Holm Laegreid slammed for overshadowing his Biathlon teammate’s win with his admission, apologizes later

Sturla Holm Laegreid, who has angered a lot of people with his infidelity admission, was also slammed for taking away the media spotlight from teammate Johan-Olav Botn and France’s Eric Perrot. Botn, who made his debut just five years ago, participated in his maiden Winter Olympics and won his first career biathlon gold medal.

Johan Olav Botn had his saliva and drool freezing on his chin when he crossed the finish line (Image via Associated Press)
Johan Olav Botn had his saliva and drool freezing on his chin when he crossed the finish line (Image via Associated Press)

Amid the high-profile news of Laegreid, Botn’s emotional and dominant win was eclipsed. Botn had a near-perfect day with clean shooting and stellar speed on his skis. The twenty-six-year-old in his first medal, had chosen to remember a late friend. He remembered Sivert Guttorm Bakken, the Norwegian biathlete who died just before Christmas last year, yelling “we did it, Sivert!” into the cameras when he crossed the finish line.

In fact, Laegreid’s girlfriend had also made a point to highlight that she was moved by Botn’s decision to honor their late friend.

The biathlete has expressed regret for his ill-timed tell-all that cast a shadow on a historic day for Norwegian biathlon. He sent apologies to Johan-Olav Botn as well as his former girlfriend for pulling her into an unwanted media center stage.

The apology goes to Johan-Olav, who deserved to have all the attention after his gold. And it goes to my former girlfriend, who has been put in the media spotlight without her wish. I hope she is doing OK. I can’t redo this, but I want to put it behind me and focus on the Olympics. I will not make any further comments about it.

The biathlon events, after a break today, continue tomorrow with the men’s 10km sprint at Anterselva Biathlon Arena in Rasen-Antholz.

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