The viral Winter Olympics subplot does not look like it’s going to get a happy ending.
Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Lægreid became a fixture on social media feeds on Tuesday when he gave a tearful interview to local network NRK after winning a bronze medal.
Lægreid told NRK’s presenter that he was competing in Milan-Cortina after the “hardest week of my life” because he had admitted to cheating on his ex-girlfriend.
“Half a year ago, I met the love of my life. The world’s most beautiful and nicest person,” he explained. “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.”
Put this in the post-race interview hall of fame.
Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Laegreid throws a Hail Mary and asks for his girlfriend, whom he was unfaithful to, to take him back after winning Olympic bronze in the men’s 20km interval start. https://t.co/XjsJtVDplF
— Marley Dickinson (@marleydickinson) February 10, 2026
Now Lægreid’s ex has issued her response anonymously in a Norwegian newspaper. She told tabloid VG: “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.”
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In the hours after his interview, Lægreid apologized for his emotional remarks in a statement to NRK. “I deeply regret bringing up this personal story on what was a day of celebration for Norwegian biathlon,” he said.
“I am not quite myself these days, and I am not thinking clearly. My apologies go to Johan-Olav, who deserved all the attention after winning gold. My apologies also go to my ex-girlfriend, who unwillingly ended up in the media spotlight. I hope she is doing well.”
Lægreid has established himself as one of the best biathletes in the world, winning four-man relay gold at the Beijing Olympics in 2022. He won bronze in the individual 20km at Milan-Cortina.