- Title: Norwegian Laegreid's love-cheat confession sparks debate among Olympians
- Date: 11th February 2026
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SPEED SKATER, ANDREW HEO, SAYING: "I don't know if I'll go as far as to do that, but yeah, I don't know. I mean, I personally wouldn't do it, but I mean, I guess good for him for being open and transparent. But yeah, I mean that's a very interesting story, very funny." DUTCH SPEED SKATER, JORRIT BERGSMA, POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS (SOUNDBITE) (Englis
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: Milano Cortina 2026 Norwegian bronze medallist Olympics Sturla Holm Laegreid Winter Olympics biathlon
- Location: VARIOUS
- City: VARIOUS
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Europe,Olympics,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA006469811022026RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Not many athletes at the Winter Olympics in Italy think Sturla Holm Laegreid's confession to cheating on his girlfriend was a good idea - but it was the talk of the town in both Milan and the mountains on Wednesday (February 11).
Shortly after winning a bronze medal in the biathlon on Tuesday (February 10) the Norwegian said in a television interview he'd been dumped by the love of his life after admitting that he cheated on her, and he hoped he could win her back.
But his plea for forgiveness has not so far worked on his ex, didn't go down with his gold medal winning team-mate - and at best drew mixed reviews among athletes who were asked about.
"It wouldn't work for me, but I wish him and her the best," said U.S. speed skater Julie Letai when asked for her reaction at the Olympic village in Milan.
Her U.S. team-mate Andrew Heo said he wouldn't do it, but praised Laegreid for being "open and transparent."
Meanwhile, their fellow speed skater, Belgium's Adriaan Dewagtere, could see the funny side, joking that he had expected similar confessions after his country's bronze medal success in the mixed relay on Tuesday evening.
And veteran Olympian and 2014 speed skating gold medal winner Jorrit Bergsma said plenty of people were discussing the story - and it should serve as a warning of the added media scrutiny that comes at a global event.
(Production: Noemie Olive, Marta Fiorin, Irene Wang, Iain Axon) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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