THE FORMER GIRLFRIEND of a Norwegian athlete who admitted to having an affair during a live TV interview after winning a bronze medal at the Winter Olympics has said it is “hard to forgive” the infidelity.

Sturla Holm Laegreid, 28, yesterday won bronze in the men’s 20km biathlon, in which skiers stop four times at a shooting range and attempt to hit five targets.

But moments after winning bronze, Laegreid stunned viewers in Norway when he spoke about an affair he had around three months ago.

NEW: Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Laegreid admits to cheating on his girlfriend after winning a bronze medal at the Winter Olympics.

Sturla Holm Laegreid broke down in tears as he talked about the "worst week" of his life.

"I had a gold medal in my life, and there are… pic.twitter.com/VDB1pNlRue

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) February 10, 2026

“There’s someone I wanted to share this with, who might not be watching today,” Laegreid told Norwegian broadcaster NRK.

“Six months ago, I met the love of my life, the most beautiful, nicest person in the world, and three months ago I made my biggest mistake and cheated on her.”

Laegreid said he told the unnamed woman of his infidelity a week ago and that it has been “the worst week of my life”.

He added: “Sport has come second these last few days. I wish I could share this with her.”

Later in the interview, Laegreid said: “You have to admit when you do something you can’t stand for and hurt someone you love so much.”

Speaking later during a press conference, Laegreid said the woman had not replied to his declaration on live TV and added: “I’m happy because then maybe she hasn’t seen it.

“Maybe she will see it at the right time. I hope I don’t make anything worse for her but maybe it can help, I don’t know.

“I hope there is a happy ending, so we will see what time will do.”

''I hope there's a happy ending.''

Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Laegreid on his decision to confess on live TV to having cheated on his girlfriend just moments after winning bronze at the Winter Olympics. #Olympics #MilanoCortina2026 pic.twitter.com/t8xorVSKZa

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) February 10, 2026

His girlfriend, whose name has not been disclosed, has since spoken to daily Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang (VG).

“It’s hard to forgive. Even after a declaration of love in front of the whole world,” she wrote to the newspaper.

“I didn’t choose to be put in this position, and it’s painful,” she added.

“We have had contact and he knows my feelings about this.”

She also described the actions of Norwegian biathlete Johan-Olav Botn, who won the gold medal, as “moving”.

As he crossed the finish line, the 26-year-old looked up to the sky, then bent forward with his hands covering his face for several seconds, in tribute to his late friend and teammate Sivert Bakken, whom he found dead in their hotel room during a training trip in December.

“It’s like I was skiing with him on the last lap, like I crossed the finish line with him. I looked up to the sky hoping he was watching and that he was proud of me,” he said.

Laegreid said he hoped his dramatic confession and the media attention that ensued “didn’t ruin Johan’s day”.

“Maybe it was really selfish of me to give that interview,” he told a group of reporters.

“I’m not really here mentally,” he added.

Norway’s former biathlete star Johannes Thingnes Boe said Laegreid’s confession came “really at the wrong time and the wrong place”.