By Chris Chavez
November 29, 2024
Gjert Ingebrigtsen, father and former coach of middle-distance champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen, has been indicted for alleged physical and psychological abuse of Jakob and another of his children. The trial is scheduled to begin in 2025.
What You Need To Know:
– In a report by the Norwegian newspaper VG, it was revealed that Jakob provided testimony alleging years of mental and physical abuse. He shared specifics of incidents of being hit in the head and kicked. Other family members have corroborated these claims.
– The indictment was recently expanded to include Jakob’s experiences, alongside prior accusations involving a younger sibling. The first charges were brought forth in April. Five other alleged cases had been dismissed based on the evidence and one due to a statute of limitations. There are a total of seven Ingebrigtsen siblings.
– Mette Yvonne Larsen, a lawyer for the Ingebrigtsen brothers, told NRK the abuse occurred over a period of ten years from 2008 to 2018.
Nettavisen published some of Jakob’s accounts to authorities including the following recollection from when he was seven years old.
"Sometime in January/February 2008, as a reaction to Jakob receiving a negative behavior report from the school, he hit Jakob repeatedly and at the same time slapped two flat hands on each side of his head for some time, while shouting and screaming at the boy . When Jakob brought his hands protectively to his head, he brought the boy's hands down again and then continued to strike."
– Gjert is charged with seven counts of breaching Norway’s “Criminal Code section 282” which focuses on abuse in close relationships. If found guilty, he could face up to six years in prison.
– Gjert Ingebrigtsen and his lawyers continue to deny all allegations. They issued a statement saying: "Gjert Ingebrigtsen maintains what he has said all along, that he does not admit criminal guilt for the offenses he has been charged with and that he has never subjected any of his children to either physical or mental abuse."
Background
– The allegations have been high-profile news in Norway, as the family is well-known for its athletic success over the years and its TV series Team Ingebrigtsen from 2016 to 2021. Gjert was also the Norwegian sports coach of the year in 2018.
– Last year, Jakob, along with brothers Henrik and Filip, came forward with their experiences of violence and threats in a VG op-ed where they described Gjert’s behavior as “very aggressive and controlling” throughout their upbringing.
Jakob, Henrik, and Filip ended their coaching relationship with their father after the 2021 season and now train independently. Under his brothers’ guidance, Jakob secured his second Olympic gold medal in the 5,000m in Paris this year. The brothers’ season was chronicled in an Amazon Prime TV series titled “Born To Run.”
– Gjert continues to coach Norwegian 1,500m runner Narve Gilje Nordås.
What’s Next?
– Prosecutors are requesting 30 court days with one day a week off, which means the trial could take eight weeks in Norway. It is unclear if Jakob will testify in person.
– Jakob has not spoken about his father’s case directly to the media. The brothers asked for respect of privacy after their op-ed. Only Henrik and Filip spoke about the alleged abuse in the Amazon Prime documentary series. Larsen says the brothers do not want any further comment on their reactions to the indictment.
– Per VG, Nordås has reportedly been summoned on a list of potential witnesses in the case. Also on the list is Linn Therese Amundsen, the filmmaker behind Team Ingebrigtsen.
– Jakob Ingebrigtsen is slated to race in the 2024 European Cross Country Championships next weekend in Antalya, Turkey.
Chris Chavez
Chris Chavez launched CITIUS MAG in 2016 as a passion project while working full-time for Sports Illustrated. He covered the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and grew his humble blog into a multi-pronged media company. He completed all six World Marathon Majors and is an aspiring sub-five-minute miler.
