Norway's Golden Athlete Accuses Father of Reign of Cruelty in Pursuit of Sports Glory

Few sports stories have been more beguiling or eccentric than that of the Ingebrigtsens, the Norwegian running family who from earliest childhood were trained as professional athletes by their father, Gjert.

- Sean Ingle

When his sons Jakob, Filip and Henrik stormed to Olympic, world and European titles, the reality TV cameras were there to capture many of the steps, squabbles and medals along the way. Little wonder that Team Ingebrigtsen became the most popular television show in Norwegian history.

But yesterday a courtroom in Sandnes, in the south-west of the country, heard that the reality inside the family home was far bleaker, with harrowing stories of violence, threats and manipulative behaviour from Gjert towards Jakob, the double Olympic champion, and his younger sister, Ingrid.

Over four hours of testimony, Jakob detailed how he had been punched and kicked by his father when he was at primary school and been threatened with being beaten to death, and outlined multiple other incidents which he said had left him emotionally damaged.

Jakob told the court that he and his brothers had finally decided that enough was enough in 2022, when Ingrid was hit in the face with a wet towel, leaving a red mark, because she did not want to go for a run.

It was at that point they split from their father and coach and told their story to the Norwegian newspaper VG. Gjert, who faces up to six years in prison if convicted, has denied any allegation of violence.