The athlete's girlfriend refused to accept his apologies.
Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Legrade won a bronze medal in the 20-kilometer individual race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. The 28-year-old athlete, who stepped onto the Olympic podium for the first time, spoke not only about his performance but also about his personal life.
In an interview with local television, he admitted that three months ago he cheated on his girlfriend, whom he called the love of his life. According to Sturla, she found out about the incident a week ago, and this period has been the hardest for him. The biathlete emphasized that in recent days, thoughts about his mistake have pushed sports to the background. The interview with the Norwegian athlete quickly spread through global media and went viral.
In the race, Legrade finished behind his compatriot Johan-Olav Botn, who won gold, and Frenchman Eric Perrot, who came in second. Already in the mixed zone, the Norwegian apologized to Botn for his admission of infidelity distracting attention from the champion's victory. Later, the athlete acknowledged that he may have chosen an inappropriate time for such revelations.
The biathlete's former girlfriend, who wished to remain anonymous, told local media that she is not ready to accept his apologies. According to her, being at the center of international attention due to a personal story was painful for her, and she did not choose such publicity.
