The seven-time world champion finished third in the biathlon – which combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting – behind champion Johan-Olav Botn, a fellow Norwegian, and Eric Perrot of France.
It is a second Olympic medal for Laegreid, who won gold in the relay at the 2022 Games.
Asked about his admission in the news conference later, he added: “Of course, now I hope I didn’t ruin Johan’s day.
“I don’t know if it was the right choice or not, but it was the choice I made.
“I made the choice to tell the world what I did so maybe there’s a chance she will see what she really means to me – maybe not, but I don’t want to think I didn’t try everything to get her back.
“I don’t want to steal the show. I hope this is just like a day-or-two thing. Then you are an Olympic gold medallist forever.”
Five-time Olympic champion Johannes Thingnes Boe, who is now a biathlete expert with broadcasters NRK, questioned the timing of Laegreid’s admission.
“It came as a complete surprise. His action was wrong – we saw a repentant lad standing there. Unfortunately, the time, place and timing are all wrong,” said Boe, a former team-mate of Laegreid.
Botn shouted the name of late team-mate Sivert Guttorm Bakken as he crossed the line to win gold.
Bakken was found dead on 23 December in a hotel room in northern Italy, about two hours from where the biathlon was held.
“I was racing with him the entire last loop. And, yeah, it was more like a feeling of crossing the finish line together, and seeing the number one beside my name was really special,” an emotional Botn said.
Laegreid added: “We were five guys on the start line, and one of them was watching from above. This was for Sivert, really.”
