Norwegian biathlete wins another Olympic bronze medal, 3 days after confessing his infidelity

By MARTHA BELLISLE

ANTERSELVA, Italy (AP) — Norwegian biathlete Strula Holm Laegreid received his second bronze medal of the Milan Cortina Olympics on Friday — three days after making an unexpected personal confession throughout a post-race interview.

Laegreid, who additionally received bronze within the 20-kilometer individual race on Tuesday, tearfully revealed throughout a reside broadcast that he had been untrue to his girlfriend and hoped to win her again.

Placing these private points apart for Friday’s dash race, Laegreid skied and shot his manner onto one other Olympic podium, ending behind gold medalist Quentin Fillon Maillet of France and silver medalist Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen of Norway.

“I attempted to do biathlon and I simply deal with the fitting factor on the proper time,” Laegreid replied when requested how he has dealt with the fallout from his revelations. “Give attention to the snowboarding and the course. Give attention to the capturing within the vary and it paid off.”

Fillon Maillet, who earned his fourth Olympic gold medal and second of the Milan Cortina Video games after being a part of the profitable French crew in the mixed relay, additionally had some private information to share.

“I wish to dedicate my race at the moment to my girlfriend as a result of we expect a child,” he mentioned, “and he or she has supported me for a few years and helped me be right here at the moment.”

Christiansen, who completed 13.7 seconds behind Fillon Maillet’s profitable time of twenty-two minutes, 53.1 seconds, earned his third Olympic medal after profitable gold and bronze on the 2022 Beijing Video games.

“It was possibly the hardest race of my life,” Christiansen mentioned. “I knew I used to be in actually good condition and if you end up in good condition you may push for these further seconds. I didn’t understand it was that tight on the finish, however I heard that on the final 500 meters it was only one second to silver, or one second to fourth place.

“Perhaps it was the race of my life,” he added.

Laegreid ended up 2.2 seconds behind Christiansen and 15.9 behind Fillon Maillet.

“I by no means gave up and I used to be rewarded with the bronze,” the Norwegian mentioned.

Laegreid’s tearful confession on Tuesday after the 20-kilometer particular person occasion was criticized by some who mentioned it took the main target away from teammate Johan-Olav Botn, who received the gold medal in that race.

“I deeply remorse sharing this private story on what was a day of celebration for Norwegian biathlon,” Laegreid said in a statement issued by the Norwegian crew on Wednesday.

Not one of the high 5 finishers missed a goal, making it a ski race that got here right down to seconds. Fifth-place finisher Sabastian Samuelsson of Sweden was solely 25 seconds behind Fillon Maillet.

Botn missed one shot and was eighth.

The U.S. had excessive hopes that Campbell Wright would safe the nation’s first Olympic medal in biathlon, however one missed goal set him again and he completed in twelfth place, 1:10 behind the winner. Wright, a rising star and twin citizen from New Zealand, was favored after profitable silver medals within the dash and pursuit eventually yr’s world championships.

Wright completed twenty seventh in Tuesday’s race.

“The person was a bit brutal with the playing cards we had been dealt. I don’t suppose we had the very best skis,” Wright mentioned. “However at the moment our skis had been extra aggressive and me not being on the rostrum was my very own fault. In order that’s a greater feeling.”