Henrik Ingebrigtsen (31) says that Gjert Ingebrigtsen will in future have no role for Jakob, Filip and him as runners. He, on the other hand, wants his father to be just a father to them.
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In the future, Gjert will not have any role as coach, coordinator and administrator towards us. But I hope that he is a little ahead of time, when things calm down in terms of the coaching role, that he can step up in the father role, says Henrik Ingebrigtsen.
He points out that he has previously expressed that Gjert Ingebrigtsen’s many roles for the “boys” – the three international running stars – have affected their genuine family relationship. The professional part of the relationship has taken a lot of time.
– More father, regardless of what might happen. That is what I look forward to, that he is just a father, says Henrik Ingebrigtsen.
He adds that “we are happy in Gjert”.
– He’s our dad. We have a lot to thank him for, as a father and coach. But in the end, he and we get to the intersection where we and he have to choose: father-son or coach-athlete. After so many years in both roles, it went no further. We believe it is best for everyone that he is only a father and grandfather. That he will be the world’s best at it too, says Henrik Ingebrigtsen.
Gjert Ingebrigtsen will not comment on this interview with Henrik Ingebrigtsen.
–The Ingebrigtsen family, known through NRK’s reality series «Team Ingebrigtsen»consists of seven children, mother Tone and father and coach Gjert.
It’s been six weeks since it became known that Gjert Ingebrigtsen was on sick leave and Jakob, Filip and Henrik Ingebrigtsen had to do without him as a trainer. The Athletics Association explained the sick leave with high work pressure.
Three weeks ago it became known that he partly was back as a coachfor Narve Gilje Nordås.
He adds and repeats that they do not talk together about sporting issues. He says that they are trained to take responsibility for themselves, and that they have plans that they believe will work for a while to come.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen said a month ago, in connection with setting a world record indoors in France, that nothing lasts forever.
He was referring to Gjert Ingebrigtsen.
– He has taken some water over his head. There is nothing that lasts forever, said the Olympic gold medalist from Tokyo and smiled.
In France in mid-February he had with him cohabitant Elisabeth Asserson and agent Daniel Wessfeldt as a support device. Next weekend he will run for World Cup gold indoors in Belgrade.
–Henrik Ingebrigtsen has, as he puts it, made available to Jacob in connection with the indoor WC.
– But he’s probably going alone. He is driven. He does not need a babysitter. He may need the most help in dealing with the press. But I assume that it will show understanding that he is there to compete, he says.
–He says that he now contributes as much as he can when it comes to the preparations and training of Jakob, who is “fit for fight”. Filip announced his early cancellation for the indoor WC, but according to Henrik Ingebrigtsen is on a “near normal” route. He himself is nine out of 11 months into one training program after the operation last year.
Last week he ran 190 kilometers at three intervals. He feels quite alert, but he needs to get his hips and thighs to work together properly. He must get the muscles to handle the load he puts it under. His competition plan is to run 10,000 meters at Bislett on April 13, with a speed and time (28.10) that qualifies him for the European Championships in Munich in August.
It will be Flagstaff (training camp) for five to six weeks after that, and then 5000 meters in the Diamond League at Bislett (June 16). If I’m good enough for the World Cup, it could be the World Cup (July 15-24), he says.
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