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One Olympic medal winner at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, is getting backlash for his non-traditional post-race speech.
Winning an Olympic medal should feel like the best moment in one’s life and something to share in positivity with the world. But, one Olympic medal winner at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, is getting backlash for his non-traditional post-race speech.
He didn’t technically do anything wrong, and it’s easy for people to judge who are sitting at home, not doing anything athletic and forming opinions about these athletes. But, it was a very unorthodox acceptance speech, and people are acknowledging that it was perhaps a private moment that didn’t need to be shared.
Olympic Medalist Makes Awkward Confession After Winning Bronze Medal
Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Lægreid won a bronze medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Tuesday, February 10, but he didn’t have a normal acceptance speech. Instead, after winning, he dropped the news that he had cheated on his girlfriend three months ago, “the love of [his] life, the most beautiful and kindest person,” and he wants her back.
“I told her a week ago. And it’s been the worst week of my life,” he told Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK), according to a report from ABC News. “I had a gold medal in life, and there’s probably a lot of people out there who look at me differently now, but I only have eyes for her. Sports has taken a bit of a back seat these past couple of days. Yeah, I wish I could share this with her.”
He also said that he met his ex-girlfriend six months ago and that she broke up with him when he told her that he cheated on her. He’s hoping his plea at the games brings her back.
“I accept the consequences of what I’ve done. I regret it with all my heart,” he added in the interview. “Maybe I’m dumb as a rock. I’m a member of Mensa, but I still do stupid stuff.”
He added that he’s “realized that this is the woman of my life, and I can’t live my whole life keeping that from her. My only path to the finish line is to tell her everything and put it all on the table, and hope that she’ll still love me. I’ve done that for her, and now for the entire world. I’ve nothing to lose.”
Viewers Not Happy About the Confession at the 2026 Winter Olympics
Lægreid got roasted online for his confession and plea. They let their thoughts known, too.
“Throwing a little shade at the end: ‘I have nothing to lose..’ says the bronze medalist. World class passive aggressive commentary right there,” one said. “Bro won bronze and still fumbled the love of his life harder than he fumbled the last shooting. Peak Norwegian efficiency,” another added.
“Turning an Olympic interview into a confession booth doesn’t make it honest it just makes it irreversible,” one more said. “Her reply: ‘Maybe if it were gold. But it’s only bronze,’” another joked.
Time will tell if the public confession gets her back or if it puts him even more in the doghouse. It could certainly go either way.
Anne Erickson is an award-winning reporter for Heavy Sports covering the NFL, NBA and college football. Anne Erickson has years of experience covering the NFL and additional sports, and her work has been published via ESPN, Fox Sports and more. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in sports, including Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Erickson also hosts several podcasts and is a Detroit-based radio host. More about Anne Erickson
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