If a European gold medal is at stake, then it’s almost certain that Jakob Ingebrigtsen will be there.
Still only 23, the prolific Norwegian has already won twelve European senior medals, including eleven gold, outdoors, indoors and on cross country.
Plus, the remarkable runner has won six gold medals at European U20 level on track and cross country. In short, the Olympic and world champion is a medal winning-machine and his eyes are focused squarely on more gold at the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships on 7-12 June.
Talking on European Athletics’ new podcast series Ignite, he revealed he is targeting yet another double over 1500m and 5000m. It would be an incredible hat-trick, having fulfilled similar ambitions at both Berlin 2018 and Munich 2022.
“My hope and expectations (are) probably to defend both titles,” he said of Roma 2024. “Hoping for good weather and a good championship in general. It’s somewhat earlier this year than it has been previously, so that’s also a nice challenge. That makes it a little bit exciting.”
He is also keen to perform in the historic Italian capital. “I think it’s exciting to race in Rome. It’s not something I have done too many times before.
“One road race and one 3000m in the Diamond League. It’s a nice place and hopefully it can be good conditions that time of year. I think a lot of people will use it as a good stepping stone going into the Olympics and hopefully getting a lot of good answers from all the training that we have done in the winter.”
Ongoing rivalry with the Brits
One of the most intriguing storylines in recent years has been Ingebrigtsen’s rivalry with Britain’s Jake Wightman and Josh Kerr, who pipped him to 1500m gold at successive World Athletics Championships at Oregon 2022 and Budapest 2023.
Although Ingebrigtsen had the satisfaction of 5000m gold at both championships, there is huge interest in the keen competition at the shorter distance in a year where Ingebrigtsen will also be looking to defend his Olympic 1500m title.
It’s a rivalry that has – on occasions - extended off the track with some verbal barbs, particularly between Ingebrigtsen and Kerr. “I have some friends and some of them are not my friends, and that is just the way of the game,” says of his fellow runners.
“Athletics is a sport of all different people, all different nations. It’s not a place that everyone can come together and be best friends. Sometimes it’s more focused on the competition and the winning aspect of coming out on top.”
The middle distance events are certainly a mouthwatering prospect this year. The Norwegian says: "I think we are approaching an exciting season and I think we will have to buckle our belts and get prepared."
The men’s 5000m final will take place on Saturday 8 June and the men’s 1500m final will take place on Wednesday 12 June.
Chris Broadbent for European Athletics