by SANDNES (TV 2) – With just a month to go until the World Championships, Jakob Ingebrigtsen (24) is still dealing with injury — and the event could mark his first outdoor race of the year.
The Norwegian star is still struggling with an ongoing Achilles issue and hasn’t fully recovered. He’s currently training at high altitude in St. Moritz, but few updates have been made public.
“I’m at camp preparing for the World Championships,” Jakob said in a video message during the unveiling of the Ingebrigtsen brothers’ new race event in Sandnes.
Brother and coach Filip Ingebrigtsen gave a short interview during the promotional event for the Sandnes running festival – or “Runfest,” as the Ingebrigtsen brothers call it.
“There’s not much more to say. He’s training well and doing everything he can to be race-ready as soon as possible,” said Filip.
When asked if Jakob would make it to the World Championships, Filip replied:
“I try to stay realistic, so I don’t want to make big predictions. We’re hopeful, and doing our best to stay focused on the present.”
Håvard Tjørhom, assistant sporting director of the Norwegian Athletics Federation, oversees the national middle-distance program.
– Jakob is training and fully focused on his preparations. He has a strong team around him and is doing everything he can daily to be as ready as possible for what’s ahead, says Håvard Tjørhom.
– Do you know the specifics of the injury?
– I’d rather not go into that.
– When can we expect clarity on his condition and if he will take part in Tokyo2025?
– That may not come until close to the World Championships.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen has shared glimpses of his altitude training camp in St. Moritz on social media, but key questions remain unanswered — particularly regarding his injury progress.
Has he resumed high-intensity workouts in spikes? What is his current condition? Could he end up missing the World Championships altogether? And what are the risks of pushing too hard, too soon for his future career?
– I don’t want to get into too many specifics about what gear he’s using in training. But he’s doing the basics right — training, sleeping, eating, and staying positive. We’re not taking any risks, especially with what’s coming after the season. It’s a constant balancing act, says his brother and coach Filip Ingebrigtsen.
So far this year, Jakob has not raced outdoors, and pulling out of his August Diamond League races suggests he’s still not at full fitness. His last competition was on March 23, where he became world indoor champion in the 1500 meters — after also claiming 3000-meter gold the day before.
The situation is undeniably tense.
Uncertainty around his condition has sparked speculation among U.S. athletics analysts.
Still, Jakob has shown before that he can deliver under tough circumstances. Last year in Eugene, he clocked 3:45 in the mile, despite battling Achilles issues over the winter. At the time, his participation had been in doubt.
– I was really down this past winter — mostly because of the uncertainty. The frustration of not recovering from the injury took a toll. In those dark moments, you can’t help but fear the worst, Jakob told NRK.
And yet, months later, he stormed to Olympic gold in the 5,000 meters.
But this year, time is tighter.
Øystein Jarlsbo of the Norwegian Athletics Federation remains optimistic:
– He’s working with a top-level support team. Jakob and those around him know exactly what’s needed leading up to the World Championships, which now appear to be his next race after pulling out of the Diamond League.
– So will he skip racing entirely before Worlds?
– It’s possible, but I can’t say for certain, Jarlsbo replies.
– Jakob is training with the goal of competing. I’m confident his team knows the exact steps to take. He’s a true professional. Everyone knows how much he loves racing — I think he’d compete every week if he could, he told TV 2.
The 2025 World Athletics Championships will be held in Tokyo, Japan, from September 13–21, 2025.
