by The father of Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen is to stand trial following allegations he physically abused his children when he was their coach, according to reports in Norway.
Gjert Ingebrigtsen categorically denies the allegations, which surfaced last year when Norwegian superstar Ingebrigtsen, along with his older brothers and former European champions Filip and Henrik, made the claims public.
Gjert, 58, was charged with physical violence against one of his youngest children earlier this year, following an investigation by prosecutors. The younger brother was not one of the three brothers competing.
According to a Norwegian publication VGthe media outlet that published the interview with the three Ingebrigtsen brothers last year that sparked the police investigation, Gjert will be tried in 2025 and the case could last up to eight weeks.
VG reported that Jakob Ingebrigtsen, winner of the 5,000m at this summer’s Olympics, had testified to the police as part of the investigation. The report said the older Ingebrigtsen brothers’ allegations were dropped.
Gjert coached Jakob to the 1,500m gold medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. The family were also stars of a reality TV show. Team Ingebrigtsenwhich was one of the most popular TV shows in Norway and followed its success on the international stage.
Ingebrigtsen split from his father before the allegations surfaced and the 24-year-old largely trained himself to Olympic gold in Paris this summer over the 5,000m distance, while he lost the 1,500m title to American Cole Hocker and British rival Josh Kerr. .
Gjert, who has seven children in total, has previously insisted he has “never used violence against his children” and his lawyers have said he denies the accusations.
Assistant State Attorney Mette Yvonne Larsen told VG: “This is a very serious charge that extends over a period of years. »
