SANDNES, Norway, June 16, 2025 — A Norwegian court is expected to deliver its verdict today in the high-profile trial of Gjert Ingebrigtsen, the father and former coach of Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who stands accused of years of physical and psychological abuse.
Prosecutors have called for a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for the 59-year-old, while his defense is pushing for a full acquittal. The trial concluded at Sandnes District Court in southwestern Norway after weeks of emotional testimony.
Gjert, who coached Jakob until 2022, is accused of mistreating both Jakob, 24, and his younger sister Ingrid, 18, over a 14-year period beginning in 2008. Jakob, the reigning Olympic gold medallist in the 5,000m (Paris 2024) and 1,500m (Tokyo 2021), recounted in court a childhood shaped by fear, manipulation, and episodes of physical violence, including being slapped and kicked as early as age seven.
“I felt like I had no free choice,” Jakob testified. “Everything was controlled and decided for me. An enormous amount of manipulation.”
Ingrid also gave emotional testimony, describing an incident in which her father struck her with a wet towel in 2022. Gjert claimed he was aiming for her finger during a heated argument.
Jakob, along with his brothers Henrik and Filip, also prominent athletes, cut ties with their father in 2022. The three shocked the nation in October 2023 by publicly accusing Gjert of physical abuse in a newspaper article, prompting a police investigation. Of the seven Ingebrigtsen siblings, charges were ultimately pursued only in relation to Jakob and Ingrid.
Gjert has strongly denied the allegations, calling the case a “textbook character assassination” and portraying himself as an overly protective, traditional father who received “ingratitude” despite his dedication to his children’s success.
“This trial has had profound and heartbreaking consequences for us as siblings, regardless of the outcome,” Jakob said in his final remarks to the court. “But it was important to tell our story.”
The verdict is expected later today.
Written By Rodney Mbua
