Father and former coach of the Ingebrigtsen brothers denies the allegations
Gjert Ingebrigtsen is to stand trial in Norway next year faced with accusations of physically abusing two of his children, including Olympic 5000m champion Jakob.
According to the indictment, the 58-year-old allegedly hit Jakob and threatened to “beat him to death”.
Gjert, who stopped coaching Jakob and his brothers in 2022, has denied the allegations. His lawyers, John Christian Elden and Heidi Reisvang, said in a statement: “Gjert Ingebrigtsen maintains what he has said all along, that he does not admit criminal guilt for the offences he has been charged with and that he has never subjected any of his children to either physical or mental abuse.”
According to Norwegian newspaper VG, Jakob has given testimony to the authorities, alleging he was the victim of mental and physical abuse, including “punching and kicking”.
The trial is expected to last a couple of months with up to 30-40 witnesses called.
Jakob, Filip and Henrik Ingebrigtsen (Getty)
VG reported: “Jakob Ingebrigtsen has explained in questioning about physical and mental abuse both towards himself and his siblings. He has explained that he has been hit in the head several times by his father, Gjert.
“In one situation, the abuse lasted for 15 to 30 minutes, the running star has explained to the police. Another episode concerns kicking. The situations Jakob Ingebrigtsen has explained in questioning extend over a number of years.
“Several other family members have given explanations that support what Jakob Ingebrigtsen has told in questioning…. Central to several of the explanations is how threats and psychological abuse must have shaped [him] growing up.”
In an interview with VG last year, Jakob and his older running brothers, Filip and Henrik, said: “We have grown up with a father who has been very aggressive and controlling and who has used physical violence and threats as part of his upbringing.”
All three brothers have won European titles in athletics with Jakob going on to win the Olympic 1500m title in 2021 and 5000m crown in 2024 plus world 5000m gold medals and world records at two miles and 3000m.
(Prime)
The family have featured in a popular documentary series in Norway in recent years with Gjert being a key figure as the domineering father and coach, but the latest set of programmes, which came out on Prime at the end of this summer, did not feature him.
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