Olympian explained why he decided to confess to cheating on girlfriend on live TV after medal win

Today (10 February) was one of the most important days of Sturla Holm Lægreid's life as he won his first Winter Olympic medal, a bronze in the biathlon for his native Norway.

Only that's not what many will remember him for today as he took the opportunity in his post-event interviews to confess that he'd cheated on his girlfriend.

Speaking to NRK, he addressed one person in particular after he won his bronze medal, saying: "There's someone I wanted to share this with who might not be watching today.

"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."

Elsewhere in his interview, he explained why he'd decided to use his big moment on live TV to apologise to his ex, saying he'd made his mind up the night before that he would fess up.

Sturla Holm Lægreid won bronze at the Winter Olympics and decided to try and patch things up with his girlfriend (NRK TV)

"Last night I had a kind of revelation that I should drop this bomb," Lægreid said of his decision to confess his cheating, saying he had 'nothing to lose'.

The biathlete said he was 'already hated by her' after he cheated on her and this interview was his chance to 'make her realise how much I love her'.

One might have thought that his relationship with her prior to the cheating might have been that chance, as would have been turning down cheating on her when the moment arose.

He didn't name his scorned love but said he hoped there was 'light at the end of the tunnel for both of us' as he would like it if 'she can still love me'.

Most people buy flowers or stand outside a window with a boombox, not win Winter Olympic bronze and use the subsequent interview to try and make amends after cheating.

He announced he'd had 'a kind of revelation' the night before that he should send a message to his ex (Odd ANDERSEN / AFP via Getty Images)

Lægreid seemed intent to make his point as he spoke with tears in his eyes.

He said: "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 man has certainly taken his chance, though it's really up to the girlfriend he cheated on to decide whether or not to overlook his cheating.

"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."

Obviously at some point he did have eyes for someone else.