Norwegian biathlete Sturly Holm Laegreid’s ex-girlfriend has responded to his tearful public confession of infidelity at the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, saying it’s “hard to forgive him, even after declaring his love in front of the whole world”.
Laegreid used his post-race interview with Norwegian broadcaster NRK on Tuesday, the AP quoted him as admitting he had cheated on the “love of my life” in what appeared to be an attempt to win her back. The emotional revelation came moments after he won bronze in the men’s 20km individual race.
However, his ex-girlfriend told Norwegian newspaper VG that the public apology did little to heal the wounds of his infidelity.
‘I DIDN’T CHOOSE’
“I didn’t choose to be in this position and it’s painful to endure,” she told VG, who chose not to be named out of respect for her privacy. “We have been in touch and he is aware of my feelings on the matter.
During an interview on Tuesday, Laegreid revealed that he met his girlfriend six months ago before making the “biggest mistake of my life” when he was unfaithful three months ago. Fighting back tears, he described her as “the most beautiful and sweetest person in the world” and said he wanted the world to know how much she meant to him.
The unexpected admission immediately sparked controversy and critics say overshadowed teammate Johan-Olav Botn’s gold medal in the same event. Botn dedicated his emotional victory to teammate Sivert Guttorm Bakken, who died in December.
THE ATHLETE APOLOGIZES
On Wednesday, Laegreid issued a statement acknowledging his poor judgment and apologizing for the incident.
“I deeply regret sharing this personal story on a day celebrating Norwegian biathlon,” he said. “I’m not quite myself these days and I’m not thinking clearly.
He specifically apologized to Botna, saying his teammate “deserved all the attention after winning the gold” and to his ex-girlfriend for thrusting her reluctantly into the media spotlight. Laegreid added that he would not answer further questions on the matter and would focus on the remaining Olympic events.
Norwegian biathlon legend Johannes Thingnes Boe criticized the timing of the confession, telling NRK that “both the time and the place are completely wrong”.
Former German biathlete Erik Lesser, who now works as a commentator, expressed frustration that personal drama overshadowed sporting achievements at the Games. He told The Associated Press that he wants the focus to return to sports rather than off-field controversies.
The incident cast a shadow over what was meant to be a celebration of Norway’s biathlon success, with Laegreid now facing the challenge of regaining competitive focus as the Winter Olympics continue.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
February 11, 2026