Henrik, Filip and Jakob Ingebrigtsen accuse their father and coach Gjert Ingebrigtsen of being "aggressive, controlling and violent" and explain that this was the reason for removing him as coach after the Tokyo Olympics, in a column published in the Norwegian newspaper VG.
Gjert Ingebrigtsen has denied the allegations, but the Ingebrigtsens' family disagreements have been the subject of speculation since Gjert announced in 2022 that he was stepping down as coach, shortly after Jakob won Olympic gold in Tokyo.
"When we broke up with Gjert, we thought we could handle the situation in an orderly manner, without mentioning the underlying circumstances. Now we realize that is not possible. This matter has become so inflamed and has had such great consequences that we feel a responsibility to clean it," the athletes have commented.
"We have grown up with a father who has been very aggressive and controlling and who has used physical violence and threats as part of his upbringing. We still feel the discomfort and fear that has been in us since childhood. In some ways we have accepted. We have lived with it and in adulthood we have overcome it. At least we think so."
"In retrospect, we realize it was naïve. But two years ago, the same aggression and physical punishment struck again. It was the last straw."
Through his lawyer, Gjert Ingebrigtsen, he said: "The statements they make are unfounded. I have never used violence against my children. That I have weaknesses as a father, and that I have been too much of a coach, is something I have also realized. account, although too late."
The Norwegian Athletics Association, NFIF, denied Gjert accreditation for the World Indoor World Championships in March in Glasgow and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, which brought even more conflict than there already was, according to Norwegian media reports, Gjert He also did not attend Jakob's wedding in September.
At his young age, Jakob has won gold in the 5,000 meters at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene and this year in Budapest, and a world silver medal in the 1,500 meters at the 2022 and 23 World Championships.
