The Norwegian Olympian who cheated on his girlfriend has expressed his regret around airing the admission after she anonymously told media outlets it’s “hard to forgive” him.
ICYMI, biathlete Sturla Holm Laegreid took the Milan Cortina Olympics by storm earlier this week when he confessed to having an affair and pleaded with his ex to “take me back” just moments after winning a bronze medal.
“Six months ago, I met the love of my life — the most beautiful and kindest person in the world. Three months ago, I made my biggest mistake and cheated on her,” Laegreid said in a post-event interview on Tuesday.
The viral moment overtook social media feeds, but if his former girlfriend’s recent statement is anything to go by, Laegreid’s desperate worldwide plea did not work. Huh, funny that.
“It’s hard to forgive, even after a declaration of love in front of the whole world,” Laegreid’s ex, who did not reveal her identity, told Norwegian tabloid VG.
“I did not choose to be put in this position, and it hurts to have to be in it,” she added.
The woman went on to reveal that she’d had discussions with Laegreid in the days after his declaration, saying he now knows the attempt to win her back was unsuccessful.
“We have had contact, and he is aware of my opinions on this,” she said.
The statement came on the same day Laegreid told the media he regretted the timing of his announcement and how it overshadowed his teammate Johan-Olav Botn, who won a gold medal in the same biathlete event.
“I deeply regret that I brought up this personal story on what was a joyous day for Norwegian biathlon,” Laegreid said in a statement issued by the Norwegian Olympic team. “I am not quite myself today, and I am not thinking clearly.”
Laegreid apologised directly to both Botn and his ex, saying it was the former 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 undo this, but I will now put it behind me and focus on the Olympics,” he added.
Laegreid said he will not comment any further on the cheating scandal and will instead focus on his remaining events at the Milan Cortina Olympics.
All of it comes after Laegreid’s jaw-dropping admission in which he revealed he’d divulged the affair to his ex just days before heading to the Games, describing it as “the worst week of my life” and saying he risked “social suicide” by airing the dirty laundry so publicly.
“I made a choice to tell the world what I did, so maybe, maybe there is a chance she will see what she really means to me. Maybe not,” he said.
Yeah, maybe not pal.
Watch the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 live and free on Channel 9 and 9Now, or catch every second on Stan Sport.
Lead images: Getty Images and TikTok
