Ingebrigtsen siblings’ success driven by father’s tough love
Doha, September 29
Gjert Ingebrigtsen admits he is a dictator but one who produces results as three of his sons — Jakob, Henrik and Filip — will contest Monday's 5,000m final at the World Athletics Championships.
The youngest of the Norwegian family trio, 19-year-old Jakob — who achieved a remarkable 1500m/5,000m double at the European Championships last year — earned a reprieve to join them in the final after winning an appeal against disqualification following his heat in Doha on Friday.
Their story is not unique in terms of three brothers succeeding in athletics — the Borlee siblings (Dylan, Jonathan and Kevin), also coached by their father, won European gold last year in the Belgian 4x400m relay team.
But the Ingebritsens' story stands out given that their father had no athletics background whatsoever.
The 53-year-old Gjert's skills appeared to lie elsewhere as he acts as accountant for his wife Tone's hair salon business and his day job is working for a logistics company. He revels in having been termed a dictator by Filip -- who was European 1500m champion in 2016 following in the footsteps of 28-year-old Henrik, who won the title in 2012. — AFP
