The norwegian police announced this Thursday the opening of an investigation after accusations of mistreatment made by the athlete Jakob Ingebrigtsencurrent Olympic 1,500 meters champion, and two of his brothers, Henrik and Filip, against their father and former coach Gjert.
A press report published last Friday by the three brothers in the newspaper Verdens Gang (VG) had the effect of a real information bomb in Norway: "We grew up with a very aggressive and authoritarian father, who resorted to physical violence and threats within the framework of his education," they wrote.
We still feel a discomfort and fear that has accompanied us since childhood," they added.
Gjert, a former athlete who is now 57 years old and who coached his three children until the breakup of relationships after the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 -where Jakob achieved his 1,500 meter gold-, denied the accusations.
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We have carried out several preliminary investigations and the information that has emerged has led to the opening of an investigation," said Inspector Terese Braut Vage, of the police of the southwestern region of Norway, where the Ingebrigtsen family is originally from.
The objective is to determine if criminal infractions have been committed," he added in a statement.
Gjert Ingebrigtsen's lawyer considered that the police decision was not a surprise.
"My client is confident about the development of the investigation," commented John Christian Elden, stressing that it represents "his only opportunity to prove his innocence."
Jakob Ingebrigtsen (23 years old) is the most successful of the three athlete brothers and the youngest. In addition to the Olympic gold in the 1,500 meters, he has two world golds in the 5,000 meters (2022 and 2023) and two world silvers in the 1,500 meters (also 2022 and 2023).
In outdoor Europeans, Jakob Ingebrigtsen has accumulated four titles, with the 1,500-5,000 meters doubles in both 2018 and 2022.
Your brothers Henrik (32 years old) and Philip (30 years old) were European champions of 1,500 meters in 2012 and 2016, respectively.
Once the break with his children was consummated, Gjert began to train another Norwegian runner, Narve Gilje Nordas, causing tensions between the latter and the three Ingebrigtsen brothers, which also generated problems within the company. Norwegian Athletics Federation.
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