AbuseAthletics
Gjert Ingebrigtsen, the father and former trainer of Norwegian athletes Jakob, Henrik and Filip Ingebrigtsen, has been officially charged with domestic violence.
In October last year, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, and his running brothers Henrik and Filip, testified in the Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang about the spartan regime their father had imposed on them during their childhood. “We were raised by a father who was physically abusive and threatened us,” he said. “We still feel the uneasiness and fear that we have known since childhood. (…) Two years ago the physical punishment and aggression returned, and that was the last straw. The situation had become unbearable.”
Docusoap
With the article, the three brothers made it clear why they broke with their father so abruptly in the winter of 2022. Following the article, the Norwegian police opened an investigation into possible domestic violence by Ingebrigtsen, who is now 58, because the family is closely followed in Norway – for five years she had her own docusoap and father Gjert even gave a bestseller from: How to raise a world champion.
But that success story has a dark side. Father Ingebrigtsen is now charged with abusing one of his seven children – he has six sons and one daughter. According to a source close to the file, it would not be one of the three athletes, but one of the younger children (Ingrid or William).
She or he was allegedly abused, insulted, threatened and hit in the face with a hand or a towel in the period 2018-2022. Investigations into the abuse of the other six children were closed without further action, due to a lack of evidence, or in one case because the statute of limitations had expired.
“No proof”
Father Ingebrigtsen has always denied the allegations. “As far as the cold cases are concerned, it is clear that there is no evidence that my client committed any wrongdoing,” said his lawyer John Christian Elden. “For the rest, Ingebrigtsen disputes the description of the facts on which the charges are based. He therefore does not acknowledge his guilt.”
Gjert Ingebrigtsen led his sons to athletics success. Jakob Ingebrigtsen (23) is Olympic champion, two-time European champion and two-time vice-world champion in the 1,500 meters and two-time world and European champion in the 5,000 meters. Filip Ingebrigtsen (31) became European champion at 1,500 meters in 2016 and vice-world champion at the same distance a year later. Henrik Ingebrigtsen (33) won European gold in the 1,500 meters in 2012.
