Olympic medal winner issues new statement after admitting to cheating on girlfriend during live interview
Winter Olympic athlete Sturla Holm Lægreid has released a new statement after he used his post-event interview to pour his heart out to his ex-girlfriend as he admitted to cheating on her.
Lægreid took home the bronze medal in the men's 20km biathlon, his first Olympic medal, and afterwards told NRK it was a 'big' moment for him but he had something to get off his chest.
He said: "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."
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Now he's spoken out again to apologise to his ex-girlfriend and his Norwegian teammate Johan-Olav Botn, who won gold and had dedicated his medal to their late team-mate Sivert Guttorm Bakken after he died in December.
"I deeply regret bringing up this personal story on what was a day of celebration for Norwegian biathlon," Lægreid said in a statement shared with NRK.
"I am not quite myself these days, and I am not thinking clearly. My apologies go to Johan-Olav, who deserved all the attention after winning gold.
"My apologies also go to my ex-girlfriend, who unwillingly ended up in the media spotlight. I hope she is doing well.
"I cannot change what has happened, but I will now put this behind me and focus on the Olympics. I will not be answering any further questions about this."
His ex-girlfriend, whose identity has not been revealed, has also spoken out on the matter explaining she 'did not choose to be put in this position, and it hurts to have to be in it'.
The mystery woman said: "Even after a declaration of love in front of the whole world, it's hard to forgive.
"I did not choose to be put in this position, and it hurts to have to be in it. We have had contact and he is aware of my opinions on this."
Lægreid had said the idea to use his post-event interview to declare his love for his ex-girlfriend and publicly apologise for cheating on her had come to him in a 'revelation' the night before.
He said he'd decided he had 'nothing to lose' and figured he 'should drop this bomb' as this might be his last chance to 'make her realise how much I love her'.
Some of his Winter Olympics teammates said they knew Lægreid was planning on saying something, while others were blindsided by the moment.
Topics: Winter Olympics, Sport
Joe Harker