Sturla Holm Lægreid won a bronze medal after completing the men’s 20 km biathlon at the Milan-Cortina Olympics. In one of the most memorable post-Olympic interviews of all time, he revealed that he had cheated on his ex-girlfriend and wanted to get back with her.
In her first statements to the media, Lægreid’s ex has revealed that she's not impressed with his demonstration of love.
© Getty ImagesLægreid’s girlfriend spoke to a Norwegian outlet anonymously. “I did not choose to be put in this position, and it hurts to have to be in it,” she said, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
“We have had contact, and he is aware of my opinions on this."
"[I am grateful] 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.”
© Getty ImagesLægreid's infamous interview
Lægreid went viral yesterday after winning bronze and speaking tearfully on camera, addressing his ex. "I told her a week ago. And it’s been the worst week of my life," he said, per a translation provided by NBC News.
"I had a gold medal in life, and there are probably a lot of people out there who look at me differently now, but I only have eyes for her. Sports have taken a bit of a back seat these past couple of days. Yeah, I wish I could share this with her.”
He then shared that he hoped that speaking up about his infidelity with the public would inspire his ex to forgive him. “I’m not ready to give up,” he said.
© Getty Images“I hope that committing social suicide [like this] might show her how much I love her. I accept the consequences of what I’ve done. I regret it with all my heart. Maybe I’m dumb as a rock. I’m a member of Mensa, but I still do stupid stuff."
Reporters and viewers were shocked by his statements, with many labeling the Olympic interview one of the strangest and most memorable of all time. In the case of viewers, the majority of them weren't impressed with his romantic declaration.
“If my ex, who just cheated on me, did this on a worldwide broadcast i would order a drone strike on him,” said a Norwegian podcaster. “This feels like a desperate public play for forgiveness that probably makes things worse. Taking accountability is important but doing it on live TV feels more like manipulation than genuine remorse.”
