The Norwegian biathlete who confessed to cheating on his girlfriend wins the second bronze medal at the Winter Olympics

Strula Holm Laegreid of Norway won a bronze medal in the Milan Cortina Olympic Games Friday in the men’s sprint biathlon race, three days after making an unexpected confession during a post-race interview.

Laegreid also won bronze in the 20-kilometer individual race on Tuesday and revealed in a live broadcast that he had been unfaithful to his girlfriend and hoped to win her back. He said he had confessed the infidelity to her a week before winning and that she broke up with him.

“I told her a week ago. And it’s been the worst week of my life,” NBC reported Laegreid as saying, citing Norwegian Broadcasting Corp. “I had a gold medal in my life, and there are probably a lot of people who look at me differently now, but I only have eyes for her. Sports have taken a back seat these last few days. Yeah, I wish I could share this with her.”

Laegreid said he regretted his behavior “with all (his) heart” and accepted “the consequences of what he (had) done,” but hoped that if he “put everything on the table,” his ex-girlfriend would take him back. Local media reported that his ex-girlfriend, who remains unidentified, was unhappy with the display.

“I didn’t choose to be in this position, and it hurts to have to be in it,” the local outlet said, according to News Sports. “We have had contact and he knows my positions on the matter.”

His tearful confession was criticized by some who said it took attention away from teammate Johan-Olav Botn, who won the gold medal in that event.

On Wednesday, Laegreid said in a statement issued by the Norwegian team that he deeply regretted “sharing this personal story on what was a day of celebration for Norwegian biathlon.”

Frenchman Quentin Fillon Maillet won Friday’s sprint race; his second gold of the Milan Cortina Games after the mixed relay, and Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen of Norway took money.