“Even though he confessed his love to the world, it’s still very difficult to forgive him,” the unnamed woman told Norwegian newspaper VG on Feb. 10. “I didn’t choose to be in this situation and it hurts to face it. We’ve been in contact, and he knows my position.”
She expressed gratitude to her support system, thanking family, friends, and strangers who have shown understanding during the ordeal.
The rejection followed a dramatic scene at the finish line of the men’s 20 km individual biathlon a day earlier. After securing third place, the 28-year-old athlete broke down in tears, using the media spotlight to admit he had cheated on his girlfriend of six months.
Sturla Holm Laegreid reacts after winning the bronze medal in the men’s 20 km biathlon at the Winter Olympics on Feb. 10, 2026. Photo by Reuters |
Speaking to NRKLaegreid said: “There’s someone I wanted to share this with who might not be watching today. Six months ago, I met the love of my life and the most beautiful and kindest person in the world. And three months ago, I made my biggest mistake and cheated on her.”
Laegreid lamented that while he had won an Olympic bronze, he felt he had “lost the gold medal of his life.”
“I only have eyes for her. I don’t know what I want to achieve by saying this… I wish I could share it with her,” he said.
The biathlete revealed he had planned the confession the night before the race, likening the move to a “nuclear bomb” intended to save the relationship.
“Last night I had a kind of revelation that I should drop this bomb… Then we’ll see what happens. I have nothing to lose,” he added.
When pressed for details, Laegreid declined to identify the woman to protect her privacy.
“I hope there’s light at the end of the tunnel for both of us. And that she can still love me,” he said.
Following his ex-girlfriend’s statement to VGLaegreid initially refused to comment, but eventually said: “I deeply regret bringing this personal story to what should have been a joyful day for Norwegian biathlon. Today I wasn’t really myself and wasn’t thinking clearly.”
Tammate johannes dale-skjevdal confirmed the team was aware of the site.
“We have known that, yes. I don’t have many comments about it now. It’s good that he is open about it, and if he wants to talk about things, that’s fine,” Dale-Skjevdal said.
Reaction on social media was mixed, with some viewers sympathizing with his heartbreak while others criticized the public display as a gesture that rarely works in real life, Daily Mail reported.
The bronze medal marked Laegreid’s first Olympic individual podium finish after a difficult World Cup season. In the event, his compatriot Johan-Olav Botn won gold, while France’s Eric Perrot took silver, 14.8 seconds behind the winner. Laegreid hit 19 out of 20 targets to finish 48.3 seconds behind Botn.
Comments are closed.