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Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s father will go on trial next year on charges that include abusing the two-time Olympic champion and threatens to “beat him to death”.
Ingebrigtsen, who won gold medals over 1500 m in Tokyo and 5000 m in Parisalso claimed that his father and former coach, Gjert, was “hitting and kicking” him. for 10 years since he was a student.
The Norwegian newspaper VG said he had seen the indictment and that state prosecutors accused Gjert of beating two of his children while he was also their coach.
According to the newspaper, Jert is also accused of calling his son a “thug” and a “terrorist” and being threatened to “shame him and put him out of health”. Ingebrigtsen Sr. denies the allegations. According to VG, the trial is likely to last around eight weeks, with 30 to 40 witnesses expected to be called.
Assistant Solicitor Mette Yvonne Larsen added: “This was as expected based on the evidence situation. This is a very serious allegation that covers a period of many years.
Gjert and his sons became part of a long-running and popular reality TV show in Norway, but in 2022. he stepped down as coach of “Team Ingebrigtsen”, apparently for medical reasons.
However, Jakob and his brothers Henrik and Philip – who are also accomplished middle-distance runners – subsequently appealed to the Norwegian Athletics Federation to help them avoid Gjert in international competition, given that their father was the coach of the world bronze medalist 2023 medalist at 1500 meters, Narve Gilje Nordås.
“We grew up with a father who was very aggressive and controlling and who used physical violence and threats as part of his upbringing,” the brothers wrote. “We still feel discomfort and fear that has been with us since childhood.”
According to VG, Jakob has since told investigators about the alleged physical and mental abuse of both himself and his siblings.
“He explained that he had been hit on the head several times by his father Gert,” the paper said. “In one situation, the violence lasted from 15 to 30 minutes, the running star explained to the police. Another episode concerns kicking. The situations that Jakob Ingebrigtsen explains in the interrogations span several years.
“Several other family members have given explanations that support what Jakob Ingebrigtsen said in the interrogation, according to VG’s information.”
John Christian Eldon and Heidi Reisvang, the lawyers acting for Gjert, said their client rejected the allegations and said “the decision to prosecute was a hasty one”.
In comments made last year, Gjert added: “The statements they are making are baseless. I have never abused my children. That I have weaknesses as a father and have been too much of a coach is a realization I also came to, albeit too late.
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