An athletics coach has been found not guilty of abusing his son, Olympic gold medallist Jakob Ingebrigtsen, in a case that captured the attention of Norway. Gjert Ingebrigtsen, 59, faced serious allegations but was convicted only for a minor assault against his daughter Ingrid, 19. He received a 15-day suspended sentence and was ordered to pay compensation of about £730.
During the trial, Jakob, who has won gold medals in both the 5,000m at the Paris Games and the 1,500m in Tokyo, testified that his childhood was filled with fear and manipulation attributed to his father. Prosecutors had sought a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence, claiming that Gjert had subjected Jakob and his younger sister to years of domestic abuse.
Gjert, however, maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings. He described himself as an overly protective father trying to support his ambitious children. His legal team argued that the court’s ruling showed there was insufficient evidence to prove he instilled a continuous sense of fear in his children.
The trial, which lasted nearly two months, featured testimonies from various witnesses, including family members and sports officials. The court ultimately concluded that while there was some merit to the claims against Gjert, they did not warrant a conviction for the more serious allegations related to Jakob.
Jakob expressed relief at the verdict, although it remains unclear if the prosecution will appeal the decision. Meanwhile, a lawyer representing Jakob and Ingrid noted that they were satisfied the court recognized some aspects of their case.
The Ingebrigtsen family became well-known in Norway through a reality TV series called "Team Ingebrigtsen," which aired from 2016 to 2021. The show documented the journey of Gjert coaching his three sons, including Jakob, Filip, and Henrik, in athletics. However, in 2022, the brothers distanced themselves from their father and later publicly accused him of physical violence and intimidation, prompting a police investigation.
Despite the trial’s outcome, Gjert’s lawyer, Heidi Reisvang, remarked that there were no winners in this situation. He hopes for a future where he can reconnect with his family.