Ingebrigtsen says Kerr's absence from Europeans is 'ruining' the sport

Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen made a triumphant return to competition on Monday, winning gold in the 5,000m at the European Championships and becoming one of the most decorated athletes in the event's history. It was his seventh European Championship gold and his 20th major international title since 2018.

The 25-year-old had spent 11 months sidelined by injury, including surgery on his Achilles tendon. Returning to top-level competition, he made no secret of his disappointment that Britain's Josh Kerr chose not to compete in Birmingham.

Criticism over scheduling choices

Ingebrigtsen acknowledged Kerr's remarkable form last month, when the Scot broke a mile world record that had stood for 27 years and went on to win Commonwealth gold on home soil in Glasgow. Still, the Norwegian argued that athletes should not be able to pick and choose which major championships to attend, saying such events exist specifically to bring together the best competitors.

He said skipping major championships is 'ruining' the sport and suggested many others should share his disappointment over Kerr's absence. Ingebrigtsen stressed he would never prioritise fast times over titles, though he acknowledged athletes are free to plan their seasons differently.

A rivalry years in the making

Kerr and Ingebrigtsen have built one of athletics' most compelling rivalries in recent years. Tensions rose after Kerr's shock win over Ingebrigtsen at the 2023 World Championships, followed by heated exchanges ahead of the Paris Olympics, where both were beaten to gold by American Cole Hocker.

The rivalry has cooled somewhat since then amid Ingebrigtsen's injury layoff, but his comeback performance suggests the pair's on-track battles could resume in future seasons.