An interview with an Olympic medal-winning biathlete has taken an unexpected turn after he chose the moment to tearily reveal his sorrow about cheating on his girlfriend.

Sturla Holm Laegreid, one of Norway’s top biathletes, won bronze in the 20-kilometre individual race, but was full of remorse when he spoke to Norwegian broadcaster NRK straight afterwards on Tuesday (local time) at the Milan-Cortina Games.

“Six months ago I met the love of my life. The world’s most beautiful, sweetest person. And three months ago, I made the biggest mistake of my life and cheated on her,” Laegreid said, fighting back tears.

He said he told his partner a week ago about what had happened.

“I’m sure many people now see me in a different light, but I only have eyes for her,” he said.

“I’m not quite sure what I’m trying to say by saying this now, but sport has taken a back seat in recent days. I wish I could share this with her.”

Laegreid’s teammate Johan-Olav Botn shot perfectly in his Olympic debut to secure the gold medal while Eric Perrot of France, the overall World Cup leader, missed one shot and finished 14.8 seconds behind Botn to take silver.

Laegreid also missed on target and was 48.3 seconds behind, taking the bronze.

It was Laegreid’s first individual Olympic medal. He was part of the relay team that took gold at the Beijing Olympics.

But instead of celebrating, he was distraught, crying and hugging friends, after the race. Later he explained why he decided to tell the world about his personal situation on the TV broadcast.

“It was the choice I made. We make different choices during our life and that’s how we make life,” he told a room full of journalists.

“Today I made a choice to tell the world what I did, so maybe, maybe there is a chance she will see what she really means to me. Maybe not.”

He said he felt bad about upstaging his teammate with his deeply personal news.

“I hope I didn’t ruin Johan’s day,” he said. “Maybe it was really selfish of me to give that interview. I’m not really here, mentally.”

 

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Meanwhile, Australia’s Winter Olympians have had mixed results over the past 24 hours, with veteran snowboarder Cam Bolton’s competition ended by a serious neck injury, while champion skier Jakara Anthony topped the moguls qualifying in Livigno.

Anthony joined her fellow opening ceremony flagbearer Matt Graham as the two Australian skiers to bypass the next qualification round, with the 2018 silver medallist grabbing the 10th and final spot in the men’s event earlier on Tuesday (local time).

In the snowboarding, Australia’s halfpipe king Scotty James said on Wednesday that he believes he’s built the arsenal capable of taking down an “army” of Japanese rivals.

Reigning Olympic champion Ayumu Hirano is under an injury cloud, with his trainer saying he broke his pelvis and nose in a heavy fall in Switzerland last month, although the three-time medallist has declared he will be out in Livigno to defend his crown.

It’s not just Hirano that James has to overcome to win his first Winter Olympics gold. Five Japanese riders are ranked in the world’s top 10, with Yuto Totsuka currently ranked No.1.

When halfpipe qualifying gets underway on Wednesday (Thursday morning AEDT), James will also face a strong challenge from his Australian teammate Valentino Guseli, with the young gun flying high – literally, after his big air Olympic performance.

Young gun Valentino Guseli was flying high after his big air performance. Photo: AP

“I think Valentino’s an incredibly talented snowboarder and I always say, most importantly, he’s actually just a really good kid,” James said of the 20-year-old.

“He’s obviously a fierce competitor and I respect him a lot.

“I think Australians, naturally, we want to pull each other down a peg, that’s in our nature … but for me, I’m not doing that.

“Every time he does well, I send him a text and say, ‘Amazing, well done’.

“But obviously, cutting through the BS, he and I know that we have to try and beat each other, but we’re going to have to beat the whole army of the Japanese and Americans and everyone else as well.”

James, 31, was pipped for the gold medal in Beijing when Hirano landed the first-ever triple cork 1440 in Olympic halfpipe competition to clinch victory.

-AAP