Jakob Ingebrigtsen's father pleads not guilty in alleged abuse case against 5000m star

Norwegian athletics star Jakob Ingebrigtsen testified against his father and former coach, Gjert Ingebrigtsen, in a trial case that has gripped Norway.

The 59-year-old Gjert, accused of physically abusing two of his children, including the two-time Olympic champion, pleaded not guilty as proceedings began in Sandnes, South Western Norway on Monday.

The trial, expected to run until mid-May, follows an investigation launched in October 2023 when Jakob and his brothers, Filip and Henrik, published allegations of physical violence and abusive behavior in a Norwegian newspaper column.

Charges were officially filed against Gjert in April 2024 for the abuse of his daughter, with an additional charge for the abuse of Jakob coming six months later.

Jakob, 24, fresh from his golden double in the 1500m and 3,000m at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, described a childhood shaped by fear and control.

“My upbringing was closely tied to fear. I was in an environment where everything was controlled and decided for me. There was an enormous amount of manipulation,” Jakob told the Sør-Rogaland district court, according to Norwegian state broadcaster NRK.

Among the incidents of abuse detailed in court, Jakob recalled being slapped twice in 2008 and kicked in the stomach after falling off a scooter in 2009.

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He also described an instance at age eight when his father struck him multiple times following a negative school report.

“I remember being extremely scared. I was terrified of what was going to happen,” he said.

Jakob also revealed tensions between him and his father regarding his relationship with his now-wife, Elisabeth Asserson.

He testified that Gjert tried to prevent the relationship, believing it would hinder Jakob’s athletic career.

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“I found it extremely difficult that someone like my own father could speak that way about Elisabeth, someone I cared about,” he said.

During Monday’s opening session, Gjert maintained his innocence, according to Norwegian news agency NTB, and is scheduled to testify next week. If convicted, he could face up to six years in prison.

The Ingebrigtsen family rose to national fame with the television series Team Ingebrigtsen, which aired for five seasons on Norway’s NRK, documenting their lives and rigorous training regimens.

However, in 2022, Gjert stepped down as his sons’ coach shortly after Jakob’s 1500m gold medal win at the Tokyo Olympics, fueling speculation about internal family conflicts.