Winter Olympics medal-winner who admitted to cheating on his girlfriend reveals weight loss over strain of scandal

The stress of the scandal that engulfed love-cheat biathlete Sturla Holm Laegreid caused him to lose weight after the Winter Olympics. 

The Norwegian, who won bronze in the individual race at the Milan-Cortina Games used his post-event interview to speak about being unfaithful and begged forgiveness from his ex-girlfriend. 

It was one of the most remarkable moments of the Winter Olympics and proved controversial, upsetting his compatriot Johan-Olav Botn who won gold and intended to dedicate it to his late friend and team-mate Sivert Guttorm Bakken, who died just two months before the start of the games.

The massive attention and criticism Laegreid received led to physical effects on his health, he has revealed. 

The 28-year-old told public broadcaster NRK: ‘I think anyone who has experienced something similar can understand. It was a physical reaction, that’s just how it is, it’s simply part of the process.

He added: ‘It was difficult to eat and sleep. That’s why I became thinner than I should have been.’

‘I hope we get plenty of good food (at upcoming biathlon events) so I can eat well and get back into shape.’

He had only told his partner about the infidelity a week earlier and she ended their relationship. 

After his bronze medal win he tearfully told the world: ‘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.’

After calming down, the biathlete continued, telling the NRK broadcaster he was willing to drop a metaphorical ‘nuclear bomb’ during the interview to try and win his girlfriend back.

‘Because I am already hated by her, and I hope that maybe it can make her realise how much I love her.

When asked about the identity of his girlfriend, the sportsman refused to reveal her name out of respect.

‘She’s probably still processing the message, but I hope there’s light at the end of the tunnel for both of us. And that she can still love me,’ he declared.

The scorned ex-girlfriend remains anonymous but responded in the Norwegian press, writing: ‘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.’ 

She added that she wanted to express gratitude ‘to my family and friends who have embraced me and supported me during this time. Also to everyone else who has thought of me and sympathized, without knowing who I am.’ 

Soon after, Laegreid released another statement to VG in which he said: ‘I deeply regret that I brought up this personal story on what was a joyous day for Norwegian biathlon. I am not quite myself and I am not thinking clearly.’

The couple had been together six months before Lægreid admitted to his infidelity.

He later apologised to the gold medal winner for taking the shine away from him, adding: ‘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 said: ‘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. He apologised to everyone.’