Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Lægreid secured a bronze medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics, but the celebration was tempered by an emotional revelation during a post-race interview.
The 28-year-old athlete finished third in the men’s 20km biathlon on Tuesday, Feb. 10. He placed behind fellow Norwegian Johan-Olav Botn and France’s Eric Perrot.
While reflecting on his performance, Sturla Holm Lægreid became visibly emotional during a live interview with NRK. According to a translation provided by E! News, the biathlete spoke candidly about difficulties in his personal life.
“There is someone I wanted to share this with who might not be watching today,” Lægreid said, explaining that he had met “the love of [his] life” six months earlier.
Although he did not identify the individual, he described her as “the most beautiful and kindest person in the world.”
Lægreid went on to acknowledge a recent mistake, stating, “Three months ago, I made the biggest mistake of my life and was unfaithful.” He added that he had disclosed the situation approximately a week prior to the competition.
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Despite earning an Olympic medal, Lægreid said the experience has been overshadowed by personal challenges.
“I’ve had the worst week of my life,” he said. “I had the gold medal in life. I am sure many people will see things differently, but I only have eyes for her. Sport has come second these last few days.”
Addressing his decision to speak openly, Lægreid emphasized accountability.
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“I try to be a good role model, and I did something stupid,” he said. “You have to admit when you do something you can’t stand for and hurt someone you love so much.”
According to his athlete profile on the Winter Olympics website, Lægreid is scheduled to compete again on Feb. 20 in the men’s 15km mass start. He previously won gold as part of Norway’s relay team at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
