Jakob Ingebrigtsen won two gold medals at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing before flying home. He immediately appeared in court in Sandnes, Norway, to testify against his father, Gjert Ingebrigtsen. Gjert faces charges of physically and mentally abusing Jakob and his sister, Ingrid, over many years.
Jakob told the court, “My upbringing was marked by fear. Everything was controlled and decided by him.” He described his father as “nervous, distraught, and extremely authoritarian.” Jakob said his father manipulated him and controlled every aspect of his life.
Meanwhile,the trial began on March 24, 2025, with Gjert denying all allegations. He pleaded not guilty to accusations that include punching Jakob in 2009 and threatening him later. Ingrid faces claims of insults, threats, and slaps from 2018 to 2022. The case could lead to a prison sentence of up to six years for Gjert.
Jakob recalled training two or three times daily under a strict regime while his classmates partied. He said the emotional cost was very high. Despite the family’s public image as Norwegian sports icons and stars of a TV documentary, the brothers revealed abuse in a 2023 column. This sparked a police investigation.
Other siblings’ allegations were dropped due to a lack of evidence or statute of limitations. Gjert now coaches another athlete but is barred from Norway’s Olympic staff. The trial will continue with testimonies from family members and show excerpts from their documentary.
Jakob continues to compete at the highest level, recently dominating the 1500m and 3000m races. His fight for justice marks a new chapter beyond his athletic achievements.
