The Norwegian running stars broke up with their father in February 2022.
The split has received a lot of attention in Norway and now the brothers choose to come out with an explanation.
“What we are about to write now hurts in many ways because it affects a person who has meant a lot to us and our career. It affects people we are close to and people who have never asked to be involved in a public conflict,” the brothers write in a statement to VG.
They describe growing up with discomfort, fear and violence.
“We have grown up with a father who has been very aggressive and controlling and who has used physical violence and threats as part of his upbringing. We feel discomfort and fear and it has been there since childhood”.
Father Gjert Ingebrigtsen answers through his lawyer:
“The accusations are completely baseless. I have never used violence against my children”.
The brothers have won several major titles over the years. Jakob Ingebrigtsen is the biggest star with Olympic gold at 1,500 meters in 2021, WC gold this year and last year at 5,000 meters, Filip took EC gold at 1,500 meters in 2016 and WC bronze at the same distance in 2017 and Henrik EC -gold in 1,500 meters in 2012.