Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Laegreid’s celebration of a bronze medal at the Winter Olympics in Antholz on Tuesday (Feb 10) took an emotional turn when he broke down during a live interview, revealing a personal affair.
Speaking to Norwegian broadcaster NRK after his 20km individual event, Laegreid, 28, tearfully described the situation as “the biggest mistake of my life.”
“Six months ago, I met the love of my life, the most beautiful and wonderful person in the world,” he said. “Three months ago, I made a terrible mistake and was unfaithful to her.”
The athlete, who previously won relay gold at the Beijing Winter Games, said he had confessed to his partner a week ago. “These past weeks have been the worst of my life. I had a gold medal in life, and now many may see me differently,” Laegreid added.
In the race, Laegreid finished third, behind compatriot Johan-Olav Botn, who claimed his first Olympic gold, and France’s Eric Perrot.
Reflecting on his candid interview, Laegreid later admitted that going live may have been ill-timed. “I hope I didn’t overshadow Johan’s victory. Perhaps it was selfish to give that interview—I’m not fully present mentally,” he said, acknowledging that the personal revelation had affected his focus on sport.
