Norwegian Olympian Admits to Cheating on Girlfriend in Viral Interview After Winning Bronze Medal

Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Lægreid claimed a bronze medal in the 20-kilometer biathlon final on Tuesday and decided it was the perfect moment to reveal to the world that he had cheated on his girlfriend and wanted her back.

"There is someone who may not be watching today. Half a year ago, I met the love of my life, the world's most beautiful, finest person, and three months ago I made the biggest mistake of my life and cheated on her," he said according to NRK (h/t Mark Giannotto of USA Today). "... I had a gold medal in my life. There are probably many now who look at me with different eyes, but I only have eyes for her. I don't quite know what I want to achieve by saying it here and now, but sport has taken second place in recent days. I wish I could share it with her."

When asked how his former partner might feel having their private lives broadcast to the country (and at this point, probably the world), Lægreid acknowledged it might hurt his chances of getting her back but was worth the risk.

"It hurts to admit when you do something you cannot stand for and hurt someone you love so much. But such is life now," he said. "I had a chance at true love and turned out so amazing. It is not certain that it can be forgiven. But if this can give 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 small chance."

On Wednesday, his ex-girlfriend responded to the overture (via VG h/t Yahoo Sports), saying the two had "contact" and that Lægreid "is aware of my positions on this."