Nordås confirms to NRK: Not breaking with Gjert Ingebrigtsen after the verdict
During a major interview with NRK in March, Gjert Ingebrigtsen’s student, Narve Gilje Nordås, opened up about his desire to break up with his coach if:
“It is proven in black and white that he has been violent or abusive in close relationships.”
On Monday, Gjert Ingebrigtsen was sentenced to 15 days in prison for assaulting his daughter, but acquitted of assaulting his son Jakob Ingebrigtsen and his daughter.
NRK meets Nordås at the airport in Stockholm. There he says that he will not break off the cooperation.
– If he wants to continue, then I will continue. To the extent that he is acquitted of all charges except for the single incident he acknowledged and apologized to me for three years ago, Nordås tells NRK.
– I am relieved
Nordås is on his way to compete at a meet in Finland after running a season-best 1500 meters during the Diamond League meet in Stockholm on Sunday.
– I am relieved and happy. I am, says Nordås about the verdict against the coach.
Counsel Metter Yvonne Larsen referred to Nordås’s previous statements when the verdict was handed down on Monday.
– Jakob is very tired of meeting his father on the athletics track, so he hopes he doesn’t have to, Larsen tells NRK and continues:
– Now we are betting that Narve Gilje Nordås will follow through on what he has promised. If his coach is convicted of violence, he will step down as coach, says the defense attorney.
To the defense attorney’s statements, Nordås responds as follows:
– He was acquitted. It is an incident he acknowledged and apologized to me three years ago. He will receive the punishment for it, and in all seriousness he is acquitted.
IN THE COURT: Mette Yvonne Larsen and Jakob Ingebrigtsen during the trial in Sandnes.
– Not to be trusted
Later on Monday, defense attorney Larsen will respond again to Nordås’ statements to NRK.
– The verdict states that it is credible that both Jakob and his little sister have experienced violence, and that he still wants to continue with him, it’s a bit like how they have experienced Narve all along. He is simply not to be trusted, Larsen tells NTB.
– We were pretty sure he wouldn’t stand by his previous statement no matter what the verdict was, so in that sense we’re not really surprised. It just shows that there was no reason to believe he would keep his word, she continues.
The criminal case against Gjert Ingebrigtsen
The trial against Gjert Ingebrigtsen lasted seven weeks, with 24 court days between March 24 and May 15. He is charged with abuse in close relationships against two of his children, but denies any criminal responsibility. The verdict is expected on June 16.
To Larsen’s new comments, Nordås responds to NRK as follows:
– I choose to trust the district court, which acquits him on all counts except the aforementioned, he writes and refers to the excerpt from the verdict:
“There is extensive information and evidence that is difficult to reconcile with the claim that the defendant is guilty.”
– I have full confidence in the judges, and I rely on their conclusion, concludes Nordås.
THE LAWYER REPLYS: Mette Yvonne Larsen speaks out against Narve Gilje Nordås. He says he is referring to the judges.
Svela also continues the collaboration
Svela also continues the collaboration
Gjert Ingebrigtsen has coaching responsibility for several athletes. Among them are Portuguese José Carlos Pinto and Per Svela.
Svela confirmed to NRK on Monday that he is not breaking off his collaboration with the athletics coach.
– I will continue with Gjert as coach, says Svela to NRK.
– He has been acquitted of all charges of abuse in close relationships, so with the outcome that came now, I will continue with him as a coach, Svela continues.
– He is convicted of assaulting his daughter. What are your assessments of the fact that he was actually convicted on that count?
– He is convicted of assaulting his daughter. What are your assessments of the fact that he was actually convicted on that count?
– It’s something I knew about myself, and he was open about it in the trial. The seriousness of it is something completely different. A physical assault is something that one should obviously have avoided, and he has apologized for it, explains Svela.
The Ingebrigtsen brothers’ press contact Espen Skoland writes the following to NRK in a text message:
– Neither Jakob, Filip nor Henrik wish to comment on the verdict or the case today, beyond what they have said in court and what has been said by the defense attorney.
CONTINUES: Per Svela continues with Gjert Ingebrigtsen as coach. Here with Jakob Ingebrigtsen during the European Championship in 2024.
– He was surprised
Gjert Ingebrigtsen was sentenced to 15 days in prison, with a probation period of two years. This means that he will not have to serve any prison time. He must pay 10,000 kroner in compensation to his daughter.
The verdict states that the court considers Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s explanation to be credible.
– He was surprised, but he was prepared for it. We talked about this last night, that it was a possible outcome, says aid lawyer Mette Yvonne Larsen and continues:
– And then it’s hard for him to understand that being believed in something still means the father is acquitted.
COACHES: Narve Gilje Nordås and Gjert Ingebrigtsen during the Trond Mohn Games 2025 in Bergen.
Gjert Ingebrigtsen’s defender John Christian Elden says that the athletics coach will continue as before.
– There is little reason to believe that the verdict has any impact on his coaching work. He is working on it today and will continue to do so, Elden told NTB.
The Norwegian Athletics Federation takes note of the verdict against athletics coach Gjert Ingebrigtsen. The federation’s top brass says the whole case has been difficult.
– This has been and will obviously be a sad and very stressful case for the Ingebrigtsen family. It has also affected the Norwegian Athletics Federation and Norwegian athletics, says Athletics President Runar Bålsrud in a comment on the verdict.
