Why Jakob Ingebrigtsen will start his 2026 campaign late
.jpg)
Reading Time: 3min | Tue. 27.01.26. | 15:36
The Norwegian, however, remained confident that even more records are within reach if everything aligns
Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s 2026 season will start on his own terms after the Norwegian star chose a cautious approach as he continues to manage his body ahead of the outdoor campaign.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for more news
Ingebrigtsen’s decision is largely shaped by an Achilles issue that disrupted his summer campaign. While the problem is no longer troubling him, the 25-year-old is unwilling to rush back onto the track, choosing instead to prioritise long-term fitness and peak condition for the outdoor season.
.jpg)
“The Achilles is very good. But because of the last couple of years, I am a little bit more cautious. So, I am prioritising my fitness for the outdoor season. I will probably start at the Bislett Games in June,” Ingebrigtsen said.
As a result, Ingebrigtsen has ruled out defending his 1500m and 3000m titles at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in March. If all goes to plan, his first competitive appearance of the year could come at the Bislett Games in Oslo on Wednesday, 10 June.
The delayed start is part of a broader strategy aimed at another historic season. Ingebrigtsen has set his sights firmly on the Birmingham 2026 European Athletics Championships, scheduled for Monday 10 to Sunday 16 August, where he will be chasing yet another 1500m and 5000m double.
His ambitions, however, stretch well beyond Europe.
“My goals are to get double gold at the European Championships, a Diamond League final victory, and to make one good world record attempt in the 1500m, the mile, and also the 5000m,” he said.
Already the most successful male athlete in European Athletics Championships history with six gold medals, Ingebrigtsen has dominated the continental stage since bursting onto the senior scene at just 17 years old in Berlin 2018.
He has since swept the 1500m and 5000m titles at the last three editions, underlining his remarkable consistency and longevity at the top.
Ingebrigtsen’s résumé also includes two world indoor and two world outdoor records. Among them is the world 3000m record of 7:17.55, a performance that eclipsed Daniel Komen’s long-standing 7:20.67 mark.
He has also come agonisingly close to Hicham El Guerrouj’s iconic world records in the 1500m and the mile. Ingebrigtsen holds the European records of 3:26.73 and 3:43.73, respectively, just fractions outside the Moroccan legend’s times of 3:26.00 and 3:43.13.
Despite the presence of elite competition in global middle-distance running, Ingebrigtsen remains characteristically inward-focused.
“I have never considered anyone to be my rival. Because I’m always competing against myself. I usually don’t look at the start list,” he said.
The Norwegian, however, remained confident that even more records are within reach if everything aligns.
“I know I can beat most of the world records from 1500m to the marathon. But it’s not easy. You really have to prioritise it, and you also have to find the right place and right time,” he said.
