Winter Olympian Sturla Holm Laegreid launched into a remarkable interview just moments after winning bronze, in which he confessed to cheating on his girlfriend.
The Norwegian biathlete took home bronze in the men’s individual 20km race, with fellow countryman Johan-Olav Botn taking gold and Frenchman Eric Perrot winning silver.
But Laegreid’s accomplishment was quickly overshadowed after the 28-year-old made the stunning revelations about his private life in a live inteview with Norwegian state broadcaster NRK.
‘There is something I want to share with someone who may not be watching today,’ he began. ‘Half a year ago I met the love of my life. The world’s most beautiful and nicest person.
‘Three months ago I made the mistake of my life and cheated on her, and I told her about that a week ago. This has been the worst week of my life.
‘I had the gold medal in life, and I am sure there are many people who will see things differently, but I only have eyes for her. Sport has come second these last few days. I wish I could share this with her.’
Laegreid went on to reveal that the pair broke up a week ago after he told her about the affair, and acknowledged he was committing ‘social suicide’ in an attempt to win her back.
‘I told her a week ago, and then it was over, of course. I’m not ready to give up,’ he added. ‘I hope that committing social suicide will show how much I love her. I accept the consequences of what I have done. I regret it with all my heart.
‘I realized that this is the woman of my life, and I can’t live my whole life keeping it hidden from her.
‘My only way to achieve my goal is to tell her everything and lay it all on the table and hope that she can still love me. I’ve done that for her, and now for the whole world. I have nothing to lose.’
Asked how he managed to put the situation to the back of his mind and still finish on the podium, the Norwegian added: ‘I try to be a good role model and I did something stupid.
‘I got a nice video from the club at home and I used that as motivation today. As I said I want to be a good role model but I have to admit when I get something wrong.
‘You have to admit when you do something you can’t stand for and hurt someone you love so much.
‘I do not want to say who it [the woman] is. She has had enough to deal with after last week but I hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel for us both. And that she can continue to love me.’
Fellow Norwegian athlete, Johannes Dale-Skjevdal, later revealed that Laegreid had told some of his teammates about the infidelity.
‘We knew about it, yes,’ Dale-Skjevdal said. ‘I don’t have much to say about it right now. It’s good that he’s open about it, and if he wants to talk about things, that’s fine, but I find it difficult to comment on it.’
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