In an interview with Aftenposten, Henrik Ingebrigtsen talks about the break-up with his father Gjert – and says that he will “try to patch up the relationship we have”.
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He says he and his brothers were at training camp in Spanish Sierra Nevada then should have decided to reject his father as a coach. Henrik Ingebrigtsen claims that it has been a topic sometimes before, often after “heated situations”. This time Henrik, Jakob and Filip agreed that «it was time for a change».
Henrik Ingebrigtsen was to deliver the message when they returned from their stay in Spain, face to face.
– It was uncomfortable. But I can not let discomfort control me. I want to attack things “head on”, he says to Aftenposten.
He says that it is “uncomfortable to talk about” and that no one can take from the father the achievements he has created with his sons.
According to Henrik, it took some time before Gjert Ingebrigtsen got over it.
– But the last month has been clearly better than the first. People process things differently. Especially when there are emotions involved. I am interested in working with our relationship so that it will be better than it has ever been, he says and says that the relationship is improving.
– I will not punish Gjert for anything. I will try to patch up the relationship we have, says Henrik Ingebrigtsen to Aftenposten.
–At the end of March, Gjert Ingebrigtsen spoke for the first time since it became known at the beginning of February that he was on sick leave.
– We knew that this wear and tear in the family would sooner or later strike. It’s been tough. Still, we have to take the slightly more boring sides in the same way as the good ones, Gjert added NRK gives.
The week before, Henrik Ingebrigtsen had stated in an interview with VG that Gjert Ingebrigtsen in the future would have no role for Jakob, Filip and him as runners.
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, said Henrik Ingebrigtsen.
In mid-February, Jakob Ingebrigtsen set a world record of 1,500 meters indoors in Liévin, France. Before the record race, he said – about Gjert Ingebrigtsen’s absence – that nothing lasts forever.
– Gjert does exist, so it will not be “life without Gjert”. But we are a large team with a lot of expertise. There are many eager souls. It does not say that. We have achieved a lot of good, and have a lot of good experience behind us, says the Olympic gold winner to VG.
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