BIRMINGHAM:
Jakob Ingebrigtsen consolidated his place as essentially the most profitable male athlete in European historical past on Monday when he gained the 5,000m in Birmingham for his seventh particular person continental gold.
The 25-year-old Norwegian timed 13min 15.29sec for victory forward of Germany’s Florian Bremm in 13:15.60. France’s Etienne Daguinos took bronze (13:16.09).
“I dreamt of this second two weeks in the past once I put my identify on the listing,” stated Ingebrigtsen. “It was simply sufficient.”
Ingebrigtsen is now unbeaten on the European championships since he gained the 1,500/5,000m double on the 2018 champs in Berlin when he was simply 17.
He repeated that double at each the Munich championships in 2022 and Rome two years in the past
Ingebrigtsen will solely race the 5,000m within the English metropolis, having not competed this season due to an achilles tendon damage that required surgical procedure.
That adopted a disappointing world championships in Tokyo in 2025 when he was knocked out within the heats of the 1,500m and will solely end tenth within the 5,000m — his final aggressive race earlier than heading to Birmingham.
“Hopefully it isn’t midway,” Ingebrigtsen stated of his medal rely.
“I am nonetheless extraordinarily younger, so I believe I will be again in coming years.”
Ingebrigtsen added: “With 600 metres to go I knew I used to be going to win. I doubted myself each minute main as much as the final lap.
“Being wholesome once more, again racing, feeling one thing like myself… I’m comfortable.”
The Norwegian confirmed no indicators of rustiness as he took to the observe at Alexander Stadium in his traditional imperious kind.
As is his wont, he was comfortable to spend the early laps in the back of the pack that included Belgium’s Isaac Kimeli and Jimmy Gressier from France, the 5,000m silver and bronze medallists respectively behind Cole Hocker in Tokyo.
Quick end
Lithuania’s Simas Bertasius and Finland’s Tuomas Heikkila took up the operating earlier than Swiss runner Dominic Lobalu, the 5,000m bronze medallist and 10,000m champion on the 2024 Euros in Rome, surged to the entrance.
Lobalu, recent from a powerful victory over 5,000m on the Monaco Diamond League, break up the pack into single file.
Gressier left Ingebrigtsen on the again, pulling alongside Lobalu on the entrance with 5 laps to run.
Because the tempo slowed, the pack bunched, at some factors 4 runners broad.
Ingebrigtsen moved effortlessly into the highest six, and at one stage exchanging phrases with Gressier because the pair took management.
With two laps to run, Gressier was out in entrance, Ingebrigtsen on his coattails and Lobalu hovering broad.
That trio surged once more, shock bundle Bremm becoming a member of the entrance runners on the bell.
With 200 metres to run, it was all nonetheless up for grabs.
Gressier went into the house straight in entrance, however pale as Bremm roared previous him.
Ingebrigtsen, barely boxed in, took one delicate step to his proper and motored previous the German in a perfectly-timed coup de grace.
“When Jakob went in entrance I knew I could not stick with him,” stated bronze medallist Daguinos.
“He is a legend of our sport. We knew if he is right here tonight it was as a result of he’s good condition. He is so robust. He confirmed that tonight. I’m so proud to share a podium with him.”
Gressier, who completed fourth, added: “Jakob is a champion. For me, the very best runner of all time. He has humility, class.
“All the things he has proven in athletics, every thing he nonetheless continues to point out whereas being perhaps even at 75% of his skills.”