I Had a Fearful Upbringing, Ingebrigtsen Testifies in Dad's Trial

Two-time Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen described a childhood marked by fear and manipulation, when he took the witness stand on March 25 to testify against his father and former coach.

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Gjert Ingebrigtsen has pleaded not guilty to charges of physically abusing two of his children, including the track athlete, from 2008 to 2022.

The 59-year-old faces up to six years in prison, with the trial due to run until May 16 in Sandnes, Norway.

"My upbringing was closely tied to fear. I've been aware of a fear-based culture for a long time," said Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who won gold in the 1,500 metres at the Tokyo Games and 5,000m in Paris.

"As a teenager, it was a concept I really identified with, because I felt I had no free will or say in anything.

"I was in an environment where everything was controlled and decided for me. There was an enormous amount of manipulation," he was quoted as telling the court by Norwegian state broadcaster NRK.

During the first day of the trial on March 25, Gjert pleaded not guilty to the charges. He is due to testify next week.

Jakob, 24, told the court about several incidents of violence.