Norwegian athlete wins the race and proceeds to tell the world that he cheated on his girlfriend

Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Lægreid won bronze at the Winter Olympics and shocked fans by confessing he cheated on his girlfriend. He later apologised, sparking debate over public confessions.

A moment in the Winter Olympics has just sparked a conversation about cheating. No, not the sporting kind… we’re talking relationships.

Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Lægreid, 28, shocked the world when he broke down in tears after winning bronze in the men’s 20km biathlon on Tuesday in Anterselva, Italy.

Speaking to broadcaster NRK, Norway’s state broadcaster, after the race, Lægreid took the moment to confess to having had an affair. He said, “Six months ago, I met the love of my life – the most beautiful and kindest person in the world. Three months ago, I made my biggest mistake and cheated on her.

I had the gold medal in life, and I am sure there are many people who will see things differently, but I only have eyes for her.

Sport has come second these last few days. Yes, I wish I could share this with her.”

The clip went viral instantly. To some, it looked like raw vulnerability. To others, it felt like something more calculated.

While Lægreid framed the moment as heartbreak and regret, his anonymous ex-girlfriend has had to deal with the fallout. She later told Norwegian newspaper VG that she “did not ask to be put in this position” and that it was “hard to be there”.

As Cosmopolitan bluntly put it, public confessions like this aren’t romantic. They can be manipulative, a way of shifting sympathy toward the person who did the harm in the first place. By airing his dirty laundry on the biggest stage of his career, Lægreid centred his pain and his redemption arc, not hers.

Lægreid later released a statement, saying that he regretted making the confession and apologising both to his teammate whose gold win was overshadowed in the drama and his ex-girlfriend.

“My apologies go to Johan-Olav (Botn), who deserved all the attention after winning gold. They also go to my ex-girlfriend, who unwillingly ended up in the media spotlight. I hope she is doing well.”

The Winter Olympics, known as Milano Cortina 2026, are currently taking place in Italy. The men’s biathlon race took place on Tuesday, and it is one of the most physically challenging sports on the programme, combining cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. Lægreid won bronze in the men’s 20km biathlon while his compatriot Botn won gold, with the Frenchman Éric Perrot in second.