Jakob Ingebrigtsen, the reigning European 5,000m champion, has publicly criticized British athlete Josh Kerr, accusing him of contributing to the “ruin” of athletics by opting out of the European Championships held in Birmingham. Ingebrigtsen, who impressively secured a gold medal in his first competitive race after an eleven-month hiatus due to an Achilles injury, articulated his strong belief to the BBC that prioritizing a fast time over a prestigious title is not something he could ever endorse.
The Norwegian superstar expressed significant disappointment over Kerr’s absence from the Birmingham event, especially considering Kerr had shattered the world mile record just a month prior. Ingebrigtsen emphasized the fundamental importance of championships, stating, “It’s not for us as athletes to choose almost where to participate. We have these championships for a reason, and that is for the best athletes to compete – that is the whole point.” He continued to assert, “So I definitely think it is ruining the sport if we are not participating. We all have different plans, but I could never see myself in that position.”
Kerr’s record-breaking performance at the London Diamond League in July, where he clocked an astounding 3:42.66 in the mile, followed by a dominant victory at the Commonwealth Games, showcased his exceptional form. However, he subsequently withdrew from the European Championships, citing concerns about pushing his body too hard and being “flying close to the sun” of injury. While Ingebrigtsen acknowledged Kerr’s world mile record as an “extremely good race” and a “very strong performance,” he remained skeptical of Kerr’s justification for missing the championships. He challenged the notion that professional runners can simply choose to rest, remarking, “Everything comes down to what you want to do. People go to work every day. It is not like because you are a professional runner you can’t work every day.”
This is not the first instance of tension between the two accomplished athletes. In 2023, Kerr accused Ingebrigtsen of exhibiting “some flaws in the manners realm” after the Norwegian attributed his loss to Kerr in the world 1500m title race to illness. The rivalry intensified in 2024 when, following Kerr’s breaking of the two-mile world record, Ingebrigtsen remarked with a touch of sarcasm, “I would have beaten him in that race, blindfolded. But it’s good that people run better than they have done before.” This ongoing friction highlights the competitive spirit and differing philosophies within elite athletics. The European Championships, in Ingebrigtsen’s view, represent the pinnacle of competition where the best must face each other, and the absence of top-tier athletes like Josh Kerr undermines the integrity and excitement of the sport.
