World Indoor champ Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s father goes on trial accused of abusing superstar son

SANDNES, Norway (AP) — The father of Norwegian middle-distance runner Jakob Ingebrigtsen went on trial Monday accused of violently abusing his superstar son.

Jakob, 24, spent the weekend underlining his position as one of the world’s finest athletes by winning gold medals in the 3,000 meters and 1500 meters at the World Indoor Championships in China.

His father Gjert, who used to coach his son, could face up to six years in jail over an alleged 14-year campaign of domestic abuse, which also involved Jakob’s younger sister.

The defense has played the first episode of the TV documentary series Team Ingebrigtsen in court, saying that if there was evidence of abuse the film makers would have uncovered it.

“This claim of domestic abuse is unique because there were productions being made with the family in training camps, during holidays and in everyday life. If there had been systematic abuse it would have been discovered,” Gjert’s defense attorney, Heidi Reisvang, told the Associated Press.

Reisvang added that the court should differentiate between the role of coach and father. “It is clear that someone training to be a world champion has a different upbringing to most people and the rules will be strict when related to eating, sleeping and training,” she said.

Gjert became a prominent media figure in Norway in 2016 following his involvement in the Team Ingebrigtsen series, in which he was seen coaching his three track and field sons, Jakob, Filip and Henrik.

The series ran until 2021. By 2022 the trio had parted ways with their coach-father and the following year co-signed a column in the national newspaper, VG, accusing Gjert of physical violence and intimidation.

The police opened an investigation, with court proceedings eventually brought relating to Gjert’s treatment of Jakob and his younger sister.

On Monday, the prosecution read out the charges, which relate to violation of sections 219 and 282 of the Norwegian Penal Code relating to maltreatment in close relationships.

Asked how he pleaded, Gjert replied “not guilty.”

Gjert continued coaching after the split with his sons and now guides Jakob’s 1500 meters Norwegian rival Narve Gilje Nordas, who will give evidence for the defense in court.

Jakob missed the first day of the trial but is due to give evidence on Tuesday after a 5,000-mile journey from Nanjing in China back to the Soer Rogaland District Court in his home city of Sandnes on the west coast of Norway.

The trial is due to last until May 16.

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Silver medalist Neil Gourley, of Great Britain, gold medalist Jakob Ingebrigtsen, of Norway, and bronze medalist Luke Houser, of the United States, pose after the men's 1500 meters final at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

FILE - Gjert Ingebrigtsen looks on during an interview with NTB at the Aschehoug premises in central Oslo, Nov. 30, 2021. (Fredrik Hagen/NTB via AP, file)

A courtroom sketch of Gjert Ingebrigtsen, former coach and father of Jakob Ingebrigtsen, during the first day of the criminal case against him in Sor-Rogaland District Court in Sandnes, Norway, Monday, March 24, 2025. (Ane Hem/NTB via AP)

FILE - Gjert Ingebrigtsen during Bislett Night of Highlights at Bislett Stadium in Oslo on Friday, June 4, 2021. (Lise Aserud/NTB via AP, file)

Jakob Ingebrigtsen, of Norway, poses after winning the gold medal in the men's 1500 meters final at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

Jakob Ingebrigtsen, of Norway, stands on the podium after winning the gold medal in the men's 1500 meters at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Silver medalist Neil Gourley, of Great Britain, gold medalist Jakob Ingebrigtsen, of Norway, and bronze medalist Luke Houser, of the United States, from left, pose on the podium of the men's 1500 meters at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Jakob Ingebrigtsen, of Norway, crosses the finish line to win the men's 1500 meters final at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Jakob Ingebrigtsen, of Norway, crosses the finish line to win the men's 1500 meters final at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Wednesday that four U.S. soldiers who went missing while training in Lithuania have died, but that he did not yet know the details.

A U.S. official would say only that the four soldiers were involved in a training accident. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, would not comment on the status of the soldiers.

Rutte said during a trip to Warsaw that he had received word of the deaths of the four soldiers and that his thoughts were with their families and with the United States.

“This is still early news so we do not know the details. This is really terrible news and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones," Rutte told reporters in Warsaw.

A statement from U.S. Army Europe and Africa public affairs in Wiesbaden, Germany said the soldiers were conducting scheduled tactical training at the time.

Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT reported that four U.S. soldiers and vehicle were reported missing Tuesday afternoon during an exercise at the General Silvestras Žukauskas training ground in Pabradė, a town located less than 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the border with Belarus.

The Baltic countries of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are all NATO members and have often had chilly ties with Russia, a key ally of Belarus, since declaring independence from the Soviet Union in 1990.

Relations soured further over Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has been one of the most outspoken supporters of Ukraine in its fight against Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces.

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AP writer Lolita C. Baldor contributed from Washington

FILE - Eurocopters Tiger of the German Army take part in the Lithuanian-German division-level international military exercise 'Grand Quadriga 2024' at a training range in Pabrade, north of the capital Vilnius, Lithuania on May 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis, File)