Olympic medal winner confesses to cheating on girlfriend during live TV interview moments after big win
Norwegian Winter Olympic biathlete Sturla Holm Lægreid just took home the bronze, but he used his post-event interview to admit he'd been cheating on his girlfriend.
His countryman Johan-Olav Botn scored the gold medal, while France's Eric Perrot took silver, but Lægreid appeared to want to get something off his chest as he spoke to media after securing his spot on the podium.
The 28-year-old told NRK it was 'big' to win his first ever Olympic medal and he thanked everyone who'd helped him get there, but there was one person in particular who he was worried might not have seen it.
He said: "There's someone I wanted to share this with who might not be watching today.
Advert
"Six months ago, I met the love of my life and the most beautiful and kindest person in the world. And three months ago I made my biggest mistake and cheated on her."
The biathlete, which means he combines cross-country skiing with rifle shooting, said he'd experienced 'the worst week of my life' as he cried on camera and admitted he wasn't sure what talking about it would do.
"I had a gold medal in my life," he'd said after winning his bronze medal.
"I only have eyes for her. I don't know what I want to achieve by saying this, but sports have been in a different line in recent days. So I wish I could share it with her."
He said he wanted to be a 'good role model' but had to admit to his mistakes when he made them, explaining that 'maybe the whole world knows it, but there have been a lot of thoughts in my head in recent days'.
The Olympian said he had 'nothing to lose' and had 'screwed up so badly' his 'chance at true love', but felt it worth saying something at the moment he had the most eyes on him.
"If this gives me a tiny chance to tell her how much I love her, I'd rather commit social suicide on live TV just to get that little chance," the tearful Norwegian said.
The identity of the athlete's lost love remains unknown and he said he wasn't going to divulge it, but hoped there was 'light at the end of the tunnel for both of us' and perhaps 'she can still love me'.
One of his Winter Olympic teammates, Johannes Dale-Skjevdal, said Lægreid had told him about the cheating, but thought the matter was 'difficult to comment on'.
It's certainly not what most athletes use their post-event interviews for, but Lægreid seemed to think it was important enough to him that he said it.
Topics: Sex and Relationships, Sport, Winter Olympics, News
Joe Harker