When you usually see an athlete crying after winning an Olympic medal, they are tears of joy.
For Sturla Holm Laegreid, however, they were tears of regret.
The Norwegian Olympian broke down into tears during an interview after winning the bronze medal in the men’s 20 km biathlon on Tuesday at the 2026 Winter Games in Milano-Cortina, Italy.
While speaking to Norwegian broadcaster NRK, Laegreid first thanked everyone who had supported him in getting to this point before shockingly admitting to cheating on his girlfriend a few months ago.
Despite competing in the Winter Olympics and taking home bronze, Laegreid said this “has been the worst week of my life.”
“There is something I want to share with someone who may not be watching today,” he said. “Half a year ago I met the love of my life. The world’s most beautiful and nicest person. Three months ago I made the mistake of my life and cheated on her, and I told her about that a week ago. This has been the worst week of my life.
“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.”
Did Laegreid say who his girlfriend is?
The interviewer tried to steer thing back to the competition, asking how Laegreid managed to finish third.
“I try to be a good role model and I did something stupid,” Laegreid answered. “I got a nice video from the club at home and I used that as motivation today. As I said I want to be a good role model but I have to admit when I get something wrong. You have to admit when you do something you can’t stand for and hurt someone you love so much.”
After the podium ceremony, Laegreid spoke to NRK again, declining to name the woman he cheated on.
“I do not want to say who it is. She has had enough to deal with after last week but I hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel for us both. And that she can continue to love me,” he said.
Laegreid’s Norwegian teammate Johan-Olav Botn won gold in the event while Frenchman Eric Perrot took silver.
Emotional tribute to late teammate
Botn also had an emotional outburst while crossing the finish line. The gold medallist pointed to the sky as he crossed the finish line and shouted “we did it Sivert!” — a tribute to late teammate Sivert Guttorm Bakken, who was found dead in his hotel room in Lavaze, Italy, in December.
“My thoughts felt OK all the way,” Botn later told NRK. “I went out on the last lap and had an incredible emotional roller-coaster. It was very special. When I crossed the line I broke down. I was thinking about him all the way through the last lap.
“I started to think about the whole year and us training every day for this. It had been such a clear goal for us. I felt that he was with me that whole lap. I hope he was watching today.”