Josh Kerr can break a 27-year-old mile world record and still catch heat from Jakob Ingebrigtsen. The durability of their feud suggests that for the Norwegian, no performance by his rival is ever immune from critique, even one that shatters a mark established nearly three decades ago. The latest chapter in their long-running rivalry came after Ingebrigtsen made his own return to racing this week at the European Championships in Birmingham.
The comeback narrative surrounding Ingebrigtsen is significant. After 11 months away from competition and surgery on his Achilles, the Norwegian won the 5,000 meters in 13:15.29, earning his seventh European Championship gold medal. This victory was not merely another addition to his trophy case but a sign to his ability to return to the pinnacle of the sport after a debilitating injury. The 11-month gap implies a rigorous rehabilitation process, making his immediate success in Birmingham all the more striking.
Kerr wasn’t there, nor did he ever plan to be. The European Championships were never a part of the Scot’s season plans, even after a huge summer that included a 3:42.66 mile world record at the London Diamond League in July and Commonwealth gold in Glasgow. The scheduling conflict highlights a divergence in professional priorities. While Kerr focused his energy on the London Diamond League and the home advantage of Glasgow, the European Championships were simply not on his radar, a choice that has drawn the ire of his competitor.
That decision didn’t exactly sit well with Ingebrigtsen. Asked by BBC Sport if he was disappointed not to see Kerr racing in Birmingham, Ingebrigtsen replied, “Very—and I think a lot of people should be, because that is what championships are all about.” He expressed a belief that the sport loses its luster when its biggest names opt out of major events. “It’s not for us as athletes to choose almost where to participate,” he continued. “We have these championships for a reason, and that is for the best athletes to compete—that is the whole point.”
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Ingebrigtsen went further, arguing that athletes skipping major championships can hurt the sport. “So I definitely think it is ruining the sport if we are not participating,” he told BBC Sport. “We all have different plans, but I could never see myself in that position.” The use of the phrase “ruining the sport” indicates the severity with which Ingebrigtsen views the trend of selective participation. He positions himself as a traditionalist who believes the calendar of championship races should dictate an athlete’s season, rather than the other way around.
His criticism didn’t extend to Kerr’s world record itself, as Ingebrigtsen called the performance an “extremely good race” and “a very strong performance.” He was careful to distinguish between his disdain for Kerr’s schedule and his respect for his speed. However, he still pushed back on the idea that athletes need to choose between chasing fast times and competing for titles. “Of course I am going to go for times, but I don’t think you have to do one or the other,” he said. He argues that versatility is required, rejecting the notion that a runner must specialize either in championship racing or time trials.
If any of this sounds familiar, it should. Kerr and Ingebrigtsen have spent years trading jabs alongside races, most notably before the 2024 Paris Olympics when Ingebrigtsen said he could beat Kerr “blindfolded” when fully fit, while Kerr previously accused him of having “flaws on the track and in the manners area.” The “blindfolded” remark serves as an example of Ingebrigtsen’s often brash confidence, whereas Kerr’s retort digs into the Norwegian’s reputation for arrogance. Their exchanges have consistently blurred the line between competitive banter and personal grievance.
Their much-hyped Olympic showdown ultimately ended with neither man winning gold, as American Cole Hocker took the title ahead of Kerr in second and Ingebrigtsen in fourth. The Paris final effectively disrupted the binary narrative of their rivalry, introducing a new challenger who eclipsed both favorites. Ingebrigtsen’s injury might’ve kept the two from sharing much of a stage recently, but it only took his first race back to give their rivalry something new to argue about. The physical separation enforced by the Achilles surgery has done little to cool the temperature of their verbal exchanges.
