In one of the Winter Olympics’ most extraordinary and talked-about moments, a Norwegian Olympic medallist not only took home a bronze — but then went on national television to confess he had cheated on his girlfriend, calling it “the biggest mistake of my life”.
Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid, 28, had every reason to be celebrating after clinching bronze in the men’s 20km individual biathlon — one of the Games’ most demanding events, combining cross-country skiing with marksmanship.
But moments after his podium finish, during a live interview with Norwegian state broadcaster NRK, the athlete shocked viewers by turning from sport to personal turmoil in emotional fashion.
“There’s someone I wanted to share this with who might not be watching today,” Laegreid began, visibly emotional.
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Sturla Holm Laegreid gave an emotional interview where he confessed to cheating on his girlfriend
|NRK
He said he met “the love of my life” six months ago and described her as “the most beautiful and kindest person in the world”.
But then came his revelation: “Three months ago I made my biggest mistake and cheated on her,” he told the audience, before revealing he had only recently confessed the truth to her.
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He went on to say that telling her had made the past week “the worst week of my life”.
“I had a gold medal in my life … but I only have eyes for her,” the athlete said, suggesting that personal heartbreak had overshadowed even Olympic glory.
The confession has sparked international headlines not for his sporting achievement, but rather the rare and raw public admission of personal failings from a top-level athlete.
Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid clinched third in the biathlon, one of the most testing sports at the Winter Olympics
|REUTERS
Social media and sports forums lit up with debate over the unusual moment.
Some commentators saw it as a refreshing display of honesty and accountability, while others questioned whether sporting events should be platforms for airing deeply personal matters.
Whatever the view, the moment certainly transcended sport itself and captured wider public attention.
Laegreid’s confession is likely to be remembered long after the medals have been packed away — not for the bronze on his chest but for the raw, unfiltered moment that unfolded on live television.
Despite the controversy, Laegreid’s performance remains a sporting achievement.
He finished third behind fellow Norwegian Johan-Olav Botn and France’s Eric Perrot, successfully hitting 19 of his 20 shots in a demanding discipline that tests strength, precision and endurance.