by Jakob Ingebrigtsen (24) continues to sit out major events, recently confirming that he will skip the upcoming Diamond League meets in both Poland and Belgium.
The update comes via a press release from his media advisor, Espen Skoland.
Ingebrigtsen last competed in March, when he claimed gold in the 1500 meters at the World Indoor Championships and also won the 3000 meters in China that same weekend.
His outdoor season has been hampered by persistent Achilles issues, which are still affecting him, Skoland confirmed Thursday.
The 24-year-old has long set the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo as his main target. The event begins in mid-September.
The Norwegian newspaper VG, asked NRK’s (Norwegian state TV) athletics commentator, Jann Post – Should we be worried?.
– Yes, I think so. If you’re not fit to race in the Diamond League just two weeks before Worlds and haven’t competed all season, that’s a bad sign, he says.
A positive development came in mid-July, when Ingebrigtsen went to altitude training in St. Moritz. Still, the races in Chorzów on August 16 and Brussels on August 22 are too soon for a return.
– I had high hopes for Brussels. But it’s getting urgent now — he needs to resume full training, get used to spikes, and race regularly to be ready. This is disappointing news, Post adds.
Back in May, it was already known that he’d miss the Bislett Games on June 12. He later withdrew from races in Ostrava, Eugene, London, and even the Norwegian Championships.
Ingebrigtsen has competed at the Diamond League in Poland the past two years, and last year set a world record there.
– We’re not writing off the World Championships yet, but the situation looks more serious than it did earlier this summer. A small miracle might be needed, Post admits.
– If he races, can he still fight for a medal?
– He won’t line up unless he feels he’s in contention. He times his workouts and knows what it takes, says Post.
– Remember Eugene last year — he ran 3:45 in the mile off limited training and nearly beat Josh Kerr. He’s done the impossible before. We’ll just have to wait and see.
