Sturla Holm Lægreid issues apology after overshadowing teammate’s Olympic triumph
Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Lægreid has treated his entire national team to dinner and delivered a grovelling apology for eclipsing teammate Johan-Olav Botn’s Olympic gold medal triumph with his viral television confession about infidelity, reports BritPanorama.
The 28-year-old bronze medallist addressed Team Norway on Thursday, acknowledging he had stolen the spotlight from Botn’s victory in the men’s 20km Individual race.
“I wanted to speak in front of everyone and apologise to everyone,” Lægreid told VG Sport. “I said it had been a tough week and that I hadn’t been myself.”
He added: “I hadn’t thought through what I did well enough. I apologised to everyone who was dragged in, especially to Johan-Olav (Botn), who had the moment he deserved to enjoy, without me having to say what I said.”
The drama unfolded on Tuesday when Lægreid claimed bronze but became overwhelmed during his post-race interview with Norwegian broadcaster NRK. His emotional outburst, in which he confessed to having cheated on his girlfriend, overshadowed Botn’s gold medal win just a minute earlier.
The 26-year-old champion had intended to dedicate his victory to late teammate Sivert Guttorm Bakken, whom he discovered dead in a hotel room merely two months before the Games.
The confession sparked fierce backlash, particularly from Norwegian biathlon legend Ole Einar Bjorndalen, who condemned Lægreid’s actions. “Should I be honest? Crazy selfish. It’s shocking,” he said. “Norway wins an Olympic gold medal, and he takes his first bronze medal.”
Bjorndalen made clear where the nation’s attention should lie. “That he has cheated on his greatest love… that’s kind of his problem,” he added. “Today we’re going to pay tribute to Botn. We’re not going to pay tribute to Sturla’s frustrated love life.”
Lægreid’s ex-girlfriend, who wishes to remain anonymous, responded on Wednesday with a blunt assessment of his actions. “Even after a declaration of love in front of the whole world, it’s hard to forgive,” she wrote to a Norwegian newspaper. “I did not choose to be put in this position, and it hurts to have to be in it.”
Norway’s biathlon coach Siegfried Mazet acknowledged the team’s surprise at the timing of Lægreid’s confession, noting that he later recognized it was not the appropriate moment. Despite the widespread criticism, Lægreid remains unrepentant about what he termed “social suicide” on live television. “It’s a declaration of love to commit social suicide on TV. She’s the only one I want,” he said.
As the Winter Olympics continue, this incident serves as a reminder of the complexities athletes face within their public and private lives, drawing attention not only for their achievements on the piste but also for the personal dramas that can unfold under the pressure of competition.
