Olympic medal winner breaks down in tears, admits cheating

A Norwegian Olympic bronze medalist has sparked global reactions after breaking down in tears and confessing to cheating on his girlfriend during a live television interview moments after winning his medal.

Sturla Holm Lægreid secured bronze in the men’s 20km individual biathlon event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, but instead of celebrating his historic achievement, the 28-year-old stunned viewers by publicly admitting to infidelity during his post-race interview.

Speaking to Norwegian broadcaster NRK, Lægreid revealed he met his girlfriend about six months ago but cheated on her three months later, describing it as the “biggest mistake” of his life. He also disclosed that he only confessed to her a week before the Olympic race, describing the period leading to the Games as the worst time of his life.

The visibly emotional athlete said he wanted to be a good role model by admitting his wrongdoing, noting that athletes must own up to their mistakes even when it is difficult. He added that personal issues had recently taken priority over sport.

Lægreid finished third behind Norway’s Johan-Olav Botn, who won gold, and France’s Éric Perrot, who took silver in the event.

The emotional confession has since gone viral, with many viewers expressing shock that such a deeply personal revelation was made during a major Olympic broadcast