‘I was beaten by the unfaithful guy!’: Winter Olympics star who confessed to cheating on his girlfriend live on TV wins bronze AGAIN – but is the butt of rivals’ jokes

The Winter Olympics star who went viral after admitting to cheating on his ex-girlfriend during an emotional interview has won another bronze medal in Milan – at the expense of being mocked by his rivals.

Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Lægreid, 28, became one of the unexpected talking points of the Games when he publicly admitted to cheating on his partner of six months during a heartfelt declaration of love on Tuesday.

Lægreid claimed bronze in the men’s 20km individual race but stole the limelight away from his gold medal-winning team-mate Johan-Olav Botn after dramatically confessing his infidelity in a post-event interview.

He later apologised by buying a dinner for Norway’s entire Winter Olympics team, despite admitting he had no regrets over committing what he described as ‘social suicide’.

The viral Winter Olympics star claimed another bronze medal in the men’s biathlon 10km sprint event on Friday, finishing third behind French gold medal winner Quentin Fillon Maillet and Norwegian team-mate Vetle Sjastad Christiansen, who won silver.

France’s Emilien Jacquelin, who finished just two-tenths of a second behind Lægreid to claim fourth, mocked the Norwegian when asked about his performance after the race.

‘I was beaten by an unfaithful guy,’ the 30-year-old biathlete joked to Norwegian outlet VG Sport after the sprint.

‘I will f*** him on Sunday, we’ll see,’ he added with a smile, referring to the men’s pursuit final this weekend.

Lægreid and his ex-girlfriend had been together six months before he admitted to his infidelity privately, days before he was due to compete at the Winter Olympics.

Speaking to Norwegian broadcaster NRK after his first bronze medal triumph on Tuesday, Lægreid, whose infidelity happened three months ago, confessed: ‘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.’

He tearfully declared: ‘I had a gold medal in my life… I only have eyes for her. I don’t know what I want to achieve by saying this… I wish I could share it with her.’

Lægreid had not yet heard from the woman in question when he appeared at a press conference and said: ‘I am happy because maybe she has not seen it and maybe she will see it at the right time. I hope I don’t make it worse for her.’ 

His scorned girlfriend, who wants to remain anonymous, told him on Wednesday: ‘It’s hard to forgive.’

Writing to VG Sport, she 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.’ 

Prior to Lægreid’s emotional outburst, gold medal winner Botn had wished to dedicate his triumph to his late team-mate and friend Sivert Guttorm Bakken, whom he found dead in his hotel room just two months before the Winter Olympics.

Lægreid subsequently delivered a grovelling speech at a Team Norway dinner on Thursday to apologise to everyone. 

‘I wanted to speak in front of everyone and apologise to everyone. I said it had been a tough week and that I hadn’t been myself,’ he told the Norwegian newspaper.

‘I hadn’t thought through what I did well enough. I apologised to everyone who was dragged in. Especially to Johan-Olav (Botn), who had the moment he deserved to enjoy, without me having to say what I said.

‘I ruined the party, you could say. It was a big elephant in the room and important to take.’

Norway’s biathlon coach Siegfried Mazet added: ‘It was a bit surprising what he said after the bronze medal. The world was surprised. I think he understood afterwards that it was not the right place to do it. Yesterday, he apologised to everyone.’