The ex-partner of Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Lægreid appears not ready for a reconciliation in the wake of his declaration of love and admission to having been unfaithful to her in a television interview at the Olympics in Italy. "It is difficult to forgive.
The ex-partner of Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Lægreid appears not ready for a reconciliation in the wake of his declaration of love and admission to having been unfaithful to her in a television interview at the Olympics in Italy.
"It is difficult to forgive. Even after a declaration of love in front of the whole world," the women, who wants to remain anomymous, wrote to Norwegian paper Verdens Gang.
The women said she had not chosen this situation and added "it hurts to endure this. We had contact and he knows my opinion."
Lægreid won Olympic bronze in the 20 kilometres race on Tuesday and shortly afterwards told broadcasters NRK through tears: "Three months ago I made the biggest mistake of my life."
The athlete said he had cheated on his partner, whom he met six months ago. "I told her about that a week ago. This has been the worst week of my life."
Lægreid described the woman he betrayed as "the love of my life" and "the most beautiful, nicest person in the world."
The 28-year-old said he decided to speak openly in the hope of repairing the relationship with his former partner, although the two are currently separated. He said he was not ready to give up, was accepting the consequences of his actions and deeply regretted what he had done.
The statement right after the race won by his team-mate Johan Olav Botn was widely criticised and Lægreid admitted later that "I was a bit in own world" and that he now "understands it (the criticism) very well.
"I can only say I hope I didn't ruin the day for Johan. It is Johan's day and a pity that I am getting so much attention," he told Norwegian reporters later in the day.
Former great Johannes Thingnes Bø said that Lægreid had probably been overcome by emotion but that he had still "acted in a wrong way.
"We saw a remorseful lad standing there, but unfortunately both the place and the time are completely wrong," Bø said.
Ex-cross country great Petter Northug said that while Botn had honoured his late team-mate Sivert Guttorm Bakken after the race "a team-mate concentrated on with whom he has slept and with whom not.
"There are so many opportunities to raise something like that - but not at this time. It was wrong in so many ways - it is almost a bit sad," Northug said.
Category: General Sports
