The girlfriend of the Winter Olympian who confessed to cheating on her during a live TV interview has shared her response.
On Tuesday (February 10), Norwegian Olympic biathlete Sturla Holm Laegreid, 28, clinched the bronze medal at the biathlon event in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, finishing with an impressive 19 targets hit out of 20 shots.
However, his emotional confession during an interview with Norwegian broadcaster NRK quickly became the focus of global attention.
In a vulnerable moment, Laegreid admitted to being unfaithful to his girlfriend, saying, “Six months ago, I met the love of my life and the most beautiful and kindest person in the world. And three months ago, I made my biggest mistake and cheated on her.”
The Olympic medallist broke down in tears as he explained the depth of his regret, adding, “I had a gold medal in my life... I only have eyes for her.”
Laegreid shared that he had been consumed by guilt since his actions and had confessed to his girlfriend a week before the 2026 Winter Olympics.
“Sports have been a little different in recent days. So I wish I could share it with her,” he said. “You have to admit when you do something you can’t stand for, and hurt someone you love so much.”
Girlfriend Responds
Laegreid's girlfriend, who has chosen to remain anonymous, responded to his public confession in a message to Norwegian newspaper VG.
“Even after a declaration of love in front of the whole world, it’s hard to forgive,” she wrote. “I did not choose to be put in this position, and it hurts to have to be in it.”
Although she is heartbroken, she congratulated him on his bronze medal.
"We have had contact, and he is aware of my opinions on this," she added, implying that while their relationship is strained, there is still room for conversation.
Laegreid revealed that his decision to be open about his relationship was a hard one, explaining that he only made the choice the night before his race after discussing it with his teammates.
“I hope I don’t make it worse for her. Maybe it can help, I don’t know," he said. "We will see. I hope there’s light at the end of the tunnel for both of us.”
Although the athlete's emotional outburst was triggered by his personal guilt, his Olympic success was undeniable.
He finished third behind compatriot Johan-Olav Botn, who took gold, and Eric Perrot of France, who earned silver.
The event, held at the Antholz-Anterselva Biathlon Arena, saw Botn perform a flawless shooting display, hitting all 20 targets without a miss.