Rebuilding trust in a relationship after infidelity can be incredibly challenging, as relationship expert Claire Rénier pointed out following an Olympian’s public admission of cheating on his partner.
Sturla Holm Lægreid, a Norwegian biathlete who earned a bronze medal during the Winter Olympics, has attracted attention not for his athletic achievements but for openly discussing his personal relationship issues.
Lægreid revealed that ‘six months ago’ he met the person he considers ‘the love of [his] life’. Unfortunately, their relationship ended abruptly when he was unfaithful three months later.
Reflecting on his actions, Lægreid described the infidelity as the ‘biggest mistake’ of his life. By making his confession on live television, he hopes to convey to his former partner just how significant she is to him.
His ex-girlfriend, in response to his public acknowledgment of infidelity, expressed that forgiveness is ‘hard to forgive’.
She conveyed to VG: “It hurts to have to be in it. We have had contact and he is aware of my opinions on this.”
Claire Rénier, a relationship expert with the dating app happn, offered insights into the situation, advising Lægreid that the journey towards reconciliation won’t be straightforward if they choose to reconnect.
She remarked: “If they do eventually end up back together, he needs to remember that cheating is often something that can bring relationships to an end in the long run. His history of cheating, even if it just happened once, indicates that he is willing to venture outside of his relationship’s boundaries to serve his own desires, and there’s no guarantee he won’t do it again.
“His partner knowing this could result in constant feelings of suspicion and insecurity on her part, and fairly so.”
Rénier continued: “It’s also likely that both his and her friends and family may be less supportive of the relationship, as they’ll want to avoid further heartbreak for them both.
“Getting back together with his ex may also result in some other emotional impacts. For him, this could be constant guilt and a need to prove himself and his love for her, while for her this could be feelings of low self-esteem and confidence, insecurity about the relationship, as well as anger and resentment for how he treated her.”
Additionally, Rénier advised those who have been unfaithful and are considering making a public gesture of love, similar to Lægreid’s approach.
“While everyone’s relationship is different, I wouldn’t recommend sharing things like infidelity beyond your friends and family,” she suggested.
“Your partner cheating in private is heartbreaking and a complete violation of your trust. For this to happen publicly with the world’s eyes on it can bring forth feelings of embarrassment and shame, beyond just the emotional turmoil of being betrayed.”