Olympic champ Ingebrigtsen's father set for abuse trial verdict
Prosecutors have called for him to be jailed for two and a half years while the defence wants an acquittal, following a trial at Sandnes district court in southwestern Norway.
Gjert Ingebrigtsen, 59, acted as trainer until 2022 to Jakob, 24, who won Olympic golds in the 5,000m in Paris in 2024 and the 1,500m in Tokyo in 2021.
He is accused of physical and psychological violence against Jakob and his sister Ingrid, 18, from 2008 to 2022.
"My upbringing was very much characterised by fear," Jakob told the court during the trial.
He referred to his father throughout the trial as "the accused" and told the court he stopped calling him "dad" at the age of 11 or 12.
"I felt like I had no free choice and I wasn't allowed to speak my mind. Everything was controlled and decided for me. An enormous amount of manipulation," he said.
He recounted several episodes of physical violence, including slaps and kicks to the stomach, some of which occurred when he was seven years old.
Ingebrigtsen Sr has called the trial a "textbook case of character assassination".
He told the court he had been an "overly protective" father who had given his seven children a "traditional and patriarchal" upbringing.
He was keen to contribute to their success but received only ingratitude in return, he said.
Advertisement
'Heartbreaking consequences'
Jakob and two of his brothers, Henrik and Filip, who are also athletes, shocked Norway in October 2023 when they used a newspaper article to accuse their father of using physical violence during their upbringing.
The police investigated claims about all seven Ingebrigtsen siblings but retained only those relating to Jakob and Ingrid.
Jakob -- who claimed the 1,500m and 3,000m world indoor titles right before the opening of the trial in March -- along with Henrik and Filip cut ties with their father in 2022.
In her testimony, Ingrid told the court her father hit her in the face with a wet towel in January 2022.
He said he was aiming for her finger, which she was pointing at him during a row.
On the final day of the trial, Jakob told the court the proceedings had "profound and heartbreaking consequences" for the siblings regardless of the verdict.
"We have known that from the beginning, but it was nonetheless important to tell our story," he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Local Norway
16-06-2025
- Local Norway
Olympic champ Ingebrigtsen's father set for abuse trial verdict
Prosecutors have called for him to be jailed for two and a half years while the defence wants an acquittal, following a trial at Sandnes district court in southwestern Norway. Gjert Ingebrigtsen, 59, acted as trainer until 2022 to Jakob, 24, who won Olympic golds in the 5,000m in Paris in 2024 and the 1,500m in Tokyo in 2021. He is accused of physical and psychological violence against Jakob and his sister Ingrid, 18, from 2008 to 2022. "My upbringing was very much characterised by fear," Jakob told the court during the trial. He referred to his father throughout the trial as "the accused" and told the court he stopped calling him "dad" at the age of 11 or 12. "I felt like I had no free choice and I wasn't allowed to speak my mind. Everything was controlled and decided for me. An enormous amount of manipulation," he said. He recounted several episodes of physical violence, including slaps and kicks to the stomach, some of which occurred when he was seven years old. Ingebrigtsen Sr has called the trial a "textbook case of character assassination". He told the court he had been an "overly protective" father who had given his seven children a "traditional and patriarchal" upbringing. He was keen to contribute to their success but received only ingratitude in return, he said. Advertisement 'Heartbreaking consequences' Jakob and two of his brothers, Henrik and Filip, who are also athletes, shocked Norway in October 2023 when they used a newspaper article to accuse their father of using physical violence during their upbringing. The police investigated claims about all seven Ingebrigtsen siblings but retained only those relating to Jakob and Ingrid. Jakob -- who claimed the 1,500m and 3,000m world indoor titles right before the opening of the trial in March -- along with Henrik and Filip cut ties with their father in 2022. In her testimony, Ingrid told the court her father hit her in the face with a wet towel in January 2022. He said he was aiming for her finger, which she was pointing at him during a row. On the final day of the trial, Jakob told the court the proceedings had "profound and heartbreaking consequences" for the siblings regardless of the verdict. "We have known that from the beginning, but it was nonetheless important to tell our story," he said.
Local Norway
22-05-2025
- Local Norway
Norway parts ways with three ski jumping officials amid cheating investigation
Coach Magnus Brevig, his assistant Thomas Lobben and staff member Adrian Livelten are suspected of having modified the suits of Norwegian athletes, to improve their performance in the air, in a way that ran afoul of the rules. Brevig and Livelten were secretly filmed in early March in a room where the suits were cut open and manipulated, according to Norwegian media. The incident prompted the International Ski Federation (FIS) to launch an investigation, which is still ongoing, and to temporarily suspend Norwegian athletes Marius Lindvik and Johann Andre Forfang. Three other athletes were also provisionally suspended the following day, including Robert Johansson -- the 35-year-old former Olympic champion and world record holder who announced this week that he was retiring. On March 10th, the Norwegian Ski Federation said it believed that "the equipment was deliberately manipulated in violation of FIS regulations in order to gain an advantage in the competition" and suspended Brevig and Livelten. Advertisement "We have always made it clear that we take this case seriously," Secretary General Ola Keul said in a statement on Thursday. "After a thorough process, we have now reached an agreement to end our working relationship," he added. "Brevig is, given the circumstances, satisfied that an agreement has been reached regarding his contract, allowing the athletes to fully concentrate on their preparation for the Olympic season," Brevig's lawyer Julie Hoydal Davik said in a statement to AFP.
Local Norway
14-05-2025
- Local Norway
Prosecutors want prison for father accused of abuse of Norwegian Olympic hero
Gjert Ingebrigtsen, 59, who used to coach some of his children, is accused of physical and psychological violence against Jakob, 24, and his sister Ingrid, 18, over a total period of 14 years, from 2008 to 2022. He denies the charges against him. The trial, which began in March, is scheduled to wrap up on May 15th. The prosecution on Tuesday told the court it believed the charges against Ingebrigtsen warranted a combined sentence of two and half years in prison, broadcaster NRK reported. "It is one of Jacob's closest carers who has exercised violence against him. Violated him and threatened him," prosecutor Angjerd Kvernenes told the court, according to NRK. Heidi Reisvang, one of Gjert Ingebrigtsen's lawyers, told newspaper VG that they will argue for an acquittal when they present their final arguments. "We believe that the sentencing request that was made in this case is far too high, given the severity of the case," Reisvang told the newspaper. Jakob Ingebrigtsen, and two of his brothers, Henrik and Filip, who are also athletes, shocked Norway in October 2023 when they accused their father of using "physical violence" and "threats" as part of their upbringing. Advertisement In 2022 the brothers cut ties with their father. Jakob Ingebrigtsen is the most successful of the three, winning gold in the world championships over 5,000m in 2022 and 2023, and claiming the 1,500m and 3,000m titles in Nanjing to secure a rare world indoor double right before the opening of his father's trial. After pocketing the Olympic gold in the 1,500m in Tokyo in 2021, he also won the 5,000m title at last summer's Paris Games.
