Time to bin trash talking as Ingebrigtsen and Kerr go toe to toe for glory

IT IS one of the most highly anticipated contests of the Olympic programme, with World Athletics president Seb Coe labelling it "a race for the ages".

- Matt Majendie

A night after Team GB's first gold on the track, courtesy of Keely Hodgkinson, at 7.50pm this evening Josh Kerr is aiming to become the first British man to win the Olympic 1500m title since Coe's success in Los Angeles in 1984.

In contrast, Jakob Ingebrigtsen has his sights on defending the Olympic title he won at the age of 20 over the distance.

At one point, the front-running Norwegian had looked invincible before Jake Wightman and then Kerr picked him off down the home straight at back-to-back World Championships.

And the needle between Kerr and Ingebrigtsen-perhaps never as acute in this event since Coe's rivalry with Steve Ovett in the 1980s - has grown ever sharper.

Ingebrigtsen suggested he could beat Kerr blindfolded and accused him of cowardice for speaking ill of him on a podcast. In contrast, Kerr suggested his rival had weaknesses both on the track and in the manners department.