A Norwegian court dismissed many of the abuse allegations against Gjert Ingebrigtsen, but the chances of reconciliation between the father-coach and his children appear slim.
The breaking point for track and field’s most accomplished and unconventional family came in January 2022, when the 15-year-old sister of Tokyo Olympic 1500m champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen was punished by her father after school.
At the time, Jakob and his brothers, Filip and Henrik, were already decorated athletes—holding European, world, and Olympic titles. Trained like professionals since their early teens, they were also household names in Norway, thanks to the popular docuseries Team Ingebrigtsen, which featured them alongside their father and coach, Gjert.
Gjert, whose no-nonsense demeanor could make a military drill instructor seem soft, laid out his approach early in the series:
“I don’t want to be a harsh man—I want to be a father,” he said. “But if being strict helps them achieve their dreams, I’ll accept what I’m missing.”
However, on that fateful day in 2022, Gjert’s temper crossed a line. He struck his daughter with a damp towel, prompting his sons to cut ties with him and publicly condemn his actions. The incident led to a high-profile trial in Sandnes, Norway, where Gjert faced charges of physical and emotional abuse against Jakob and his sister, Ingrid.
During the tense court proceedings in March 2024, Gjert defended his actions:
“She was furious and shouted, ‘I don’t want to be in your prison anymore,’ while pointing her finger at me,” he recounted. “I flicked the towel at her finger twice quickly. She then yelled, ‘Are you hitting me?’ I responded, ‘No, I didn’t.’”
But Ingrid’s version of events painted a darker picture:
“I had been depressed and neglected for months—I felt bullied,” she testified. “I pushed his hand away. He had a sweaty towel and swung it at my face. The first time, he missed. The second time, he struck my cheek.”
After a month of deliberation, the court released its 31-page verdict, leaving no ambiguity about the towel incident:
“There is no question that the defendant acted deliberately.”
The ruling also noted that Ingrid fled to her brother Henrik’s home, where his wife, Liva, photographed a red mark on her face.
The court found Ingrid’s account strongly supported by additional evidence. “She immediately left the family home after the incident,” the ruling stated. “The following day, Gjert sent her a message expressing deep regret, admitting he needed professional help and intended to seek psychological treatment.”
Judges concluded there was “no reasonable doubt” Gjert had struck his daughter’s face with the damp towel, resulting in a 15-day suspended sentence and an order to pay Ingrid £744 in compensation. Despite the conviction, Gjert’s legal team described his reaction to Monday’s verdict as one of relief.
This relief stemmed from the court dismissing all other abuse allegations due to insufficient evidence. While acknowledging Jakob and Ingrid’s testimony often appeared credible, the judges noted frequent contradictions between their accounts and those of Gjert, his wife Tone, and son Martin regarding specific incidents.
One disputed event involved Jakob’s claim of being punched “repeatedly” by his father at age eight after a poor school behavior report. While Filip corroborated seeing punches from another room, Martin recalled only his father pinning Jakob against a wall while shouting. The court suggested these discrepancies might reflect both fading memories and existing family tensions.
Several allegations were rejected outright. Jakob’s claim that Gjert knocked him off his scooter and kicked him in public was deemed “implausible,” with judges reasoning such an assault would have drawn immediate bystander intervention. Prosecutors’ characterization of the household as perpetually fearful between 2008-2018 was also dismissed, with the court noting this conflicted with testimony from family friends and media crews who regularly interacted with them.
A revealing piece of evidence came from a secretly recorded 2019 training camp argument between Gjert and Jakob in St. Moritz. The 30-minute confrontation, captured by Henrik and played in court, showed Jakob aggressively holding his ground against his father’s verbal attacks. While describing the exchange as “pointless,” judges emphasized Jakob displayed no fear, actively countering Gjert’s aggression throughout.
Regarding potential reconciliation, Gjert’s attorney Heidi Reisvang maintained his client’s hope for eventual family healing. “As expressed during proceedings, Gjert desires reconciliation and hopes to rebuild relationships,” she stated post-verdict.
Jakob’s sole public response came via an Instagram post featuring his daughter Filippa, which carried layered meaning. “I’ll always offer hugs when needed,” he wrote. “I’ll support her choices (unless she steals my 911 GT3 RS). I’ll respect her space. And I’ll love her unconditionally (even if she does steal my car).” The poignant message, while forward-looking, hinted at enduring wounds that may never fully heal.