Father of track star Jakob Ingebrigtsen cleared of abusing 2-time Olympic champion

Gjert Ingebrigtsen, the father of Norwegian track star Jakob Ingebrigtsen, was convicted Monday of one count of assault against his daughter and given a suspended prison sentence.

A court in Sandnes, Norway acquitted Gjert of other charges including abusing Jakob, a multiple Olympic and world middle-distance champion.

In a trial that started in March and has gripped Norway, Gjert, 59, was accused of an alleged years-long campaign of domestic abuse toward Jakob and younger sister, Ingrid. Gjert denied the charges against him.

A verdict in the case was delivered in writing by Soer Rogaland District Court and Gjert was convicted of a single incident of minor assault against his daughter, his legal team confirmed to The Associated Press. He was handed a 15-day suspended sentence and ordered to pay NOK 10,000 ($1,010 US) in compensation.

John Christian Elden and Heidi Reisvang, defence attorneys from Elden Law Firm, said it was the court’s conclusion there “was no evidence to show that Gjert Ingebrigtsen created a continuous fear in his children.”

“There are no winners in this case,” Reisvang, who was assisting counsel during the trial, told the AP. “He [Gjert] hopes that one day he will have contact and a relationship with his family again.”

Gjert became a prominent media figure in Norway in 2016 following his involvement in the TV documentary series Team Ingebrigtsen, in which he was seen coaching his three track-and-field sons, Jakob, Filip and Henrik.

The series ran until 2021. By 2022 the trio had parted ways with their coach-father and the following year co-signed a column in the national newspaper, VG, accusing Gjert of physical violence and intimidation.

The police opened an investigation, with court proceedings eventually brought relating to Gjert’s treatment of Jakob and Ingrid.

Gjert continued coaching after the split with his sons and now guides Jakob’s 1500-metre Norwegian rival, Narve Gilje Nordas.

The 24-year-old Jakob won Olympic gold in the 1,500 at the Tokyo Games in 2021 and the 5,000 at the Paris Games in 2024. He was world champion at the 5,000 in 2022 and ’23.

He listed his achievements on the track in a post on Instagram — published soon after the verdict in the trial was announced — in which he said the goal he most cares about is that his daughter, Filippa, “will love and respect me for her upbringing.”