Biathlete apologises to ex-girlfriend and team-mateImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Sturla Holm Laegreid won gold in the men’s biathlon relay at Beijing 2022ByFlora SnelsonBBC Sport journalistPublished27 minutes agoNorwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Laegreid has apologised again for cheating on his ex-girlfriend and taking focus away from his team-mate’s Winter Olympics triumph – but his former partner says the situation is “hard to forgive”.Moments after winning bronze in the men’s 20km – his first individual Olympic medal – a tearful Laegreid reported on live television that it had been “the worst week of his life” after his girlfriend ended their relationship because of his infidelity.
Beside him on the podium was compatriot Johan-Olav Botn, who dedicated his gold medal to their late team-mate Sivert Guttorm Bakken after his death in December.
Botn shouted Bakken’s name as he crossed the line first in Cortina, but talk since the event has been dominated by Laegreid’s confession.
His ex-girlfriend, writing anonymously in Norwegian newspaper VG, reported she “did not choose to be put in this position”.
“It’s hard to forgive. Even after a declaration of love in front of the whole world,” she reported.
“We have been in contact, and he is aware of my feelings about this.”
