Ex-girlfriend responds after Norwegian Olympian publicly admits cheating on live TV

Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Lægreid confessed to cheating after winning bronze at 2026 Olympics

The former girlfriend of Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Lægreid has reacted after the athlete publicly admitted to being unfaithful, following his bronze medal win at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Lægreid, 28, spoke to Norwegian broadcaster NRK after his podium finish in the individual 20km biathlon, describing the past weeks as the “hardest” of his life. He revealed that he met someone he considered “the love of my life” six months ago, but three months later cheated on her. Lægreid said he informed her about the affair a week prior to his television confession.

In a statement to Norwegian outlet VG, the ex-girlfriend, who requested anonymity, described the situation as difficult. “It’s hard to forgive, even after a declaration of love in front of the whole world,” she said. She added that she had not chosen to be placed in the public spotlight and expressed appreciation for her family, friends, and others who have supported her.

Lægreid later reflected on his decision to make the admission publicly, acknowledging uncertainty about whether it was the right choice. “I don’t know if it’s the right choice or not, but it’s the choice I made,” he told TNT Sports. He explained he hoped that sharing his mistake might demonstrate his remorse and help his former partner understand his feelings.

The biathlete also expressed regret about the timing of his revelation, saying he did not intend to overshadow the achievements of his teammates, including gold medalist Johan-Olav Botn.

Lægreid, a multiple world championship medalist and former Olympic gold medalist in the relay, said he views the public apology as a personal accountability measure and intends to focus on his sport moving forward.