In 2025, two-time Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen had an eventful but controversial season. In the spring, at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, the Norwegian long-distance runner triumphed, winning gold medals in the 1500 m and 5000 m events. However, due to an Achilles tendon injury, the athlete was forced to miss a number of important summer competitions. His return to the track in September proved unsuccessful: at the 2025 World Championships, the athlete failed to qualify for the 1500 m race, which was his last appearance of the season.
Given his previous experience and health condition, the Norwegian decided to change his training schedule and skip the entire 2026 winter season. The athlete announced this in a recent interview with The Guardian.
This decision is likely due to the athlete’s desire to avoid further injuries and focus as much as possible on rehabilitation and preparation for major outdoor competitions. In particular, the athlete said that he plans to open the season with a start at the Diamond League home stage in Oslo, which will take place on 10 June.
In an interview with The Guardian, the Norwegian admitted that he has recently become more cautious and is prioritising his physical fitness during the summer season. The athlete has set his main goals for 2026 as winning two gold medals at the European Championships and winning the Diamond League final.
In addition, the athlete plans to make serious attempts to break world records. In particular, he is focusing on records in the 1500 m, mile and 5000 m distances. This approach should help the athlete balance his high ambitions with the need to stay healthy after past injuries.
In preparation for the upcoming start, the athlete is monitoring his form and devoting more time to training than his colleagues. The Norwegian said that he runs 175-180 km per week, while most runners run 1500 m less.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen admitted that due to his excessive obsession with sport, he reacts extremely sharply to his own failures. Currently, the athlete feels that there have been significantly more defeats than triumphs in his sporting career. For Jakob, running is not just a job, but a way of life, so he experiences any failure as a personal drama that goes far beyond his professional activities.
Despite his triumphant performance at the 2025 World Indoor Championships, the Norwegian is dissatisfied with how he performed in the 2025 season and has high hopes for 2026 and the rest of his sporting career. The two-time Olympic champion’s goal is to become the best long- and middle-distance runner in history.
“I’ve been competing my whole life, even when there’s no chance of winning. Even at the age of 12, I competed with adults at the national level and strove to win, although I understood that it was unrealistic. I am an analyst and a realist, not a dreamer. However, I know that there is always a chance. And that chance will disappear if you don’t show up,” said the athlete.
According to the Norwegian, the 2025 season was one of the biggest disappointments, but he remains optimistic. The athlete believes he has a good chance of achieving his goal if he has another ten years of his career ahead of him. Jakob believes he is capable of breaking most world records — from 1500 m to the marathon — although he understands that it will not be easy. According to the athlete, it is important to be able to set priorities correctly, as well as choose the right place and the right time.
Who is Jakob Ingebrigtsen: athlete profile
Jakob Ingebrigtsen is an outstanding Norwegian long-distance runner who dominates middle and long distances. He has two Olympic titles to his credit: gold in the 1500 m at Tokyo 2020 and victory in the 5000 m at Paris 2024. Today, the Norwegian holds three outdoor world records: in the 2000 m, 3000 m and two-mile races.
Ingebergtsen’s sporting achievements are impressive: he has triumphed four times in the Diamond League finals and has twice become world champion in the 5000 metres. In addition, Jakob is a multiple world championship medallist in the 1500 m and the most titled athlete on the continent, with six European championship gold medals and seven European indoor championship victories in his collection.
We would like to remind you that the Ukrainian diver won the title of Sportsman of the Year from European Aquatics.
