Jakob Ingebrigtsen Fires Warning to Rivals as He Reveals Triple World Record Ambitions for 2026

Jakob Ingebrigtsen has eyes on three world records in 2026. Photo: Imago

Jakob Ingebrigtsen Fires Warning to Rivals as He Reveals Triple World Record Ambitions for 2026

Joel Omotto 13:04 - 27.10.2025

Jakob Ingebrigtsen is looking for a grand return to track in 2026 with three world records in his sights and he has identified where he hopes to lower them.

Despite a challenging season marred by injury, Norwegian running star Jakob Ingebrigtsen has already laid out an ambitious plan to chase three of the seven outdoor world records he still aims to capture.

The 25-year-old from Sandnes has made it clear that his ultimate goal is to secure 10 outdoor world records before retiring. He currently holds three: the 2,000m, 3,000m, and two miles.

This past season, an Achilles injury prevented any outdoor world record attempts and hampered his performance at the 2025 World Championships, where he was a shadow of his usual self.

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"This year, I laid a good foundation for an incredible comeback with a couple of world records next season," Ingebrigtsen told VG with a smile, blending optimism with a touch of gallows humour.

When asked which events he was targeting, his answer was direct. "I hope to take the world records in the 1,500m, the mile, and the 5,000m. If I can manage that, I'll have to be satisfied," he explained. "I need to identify some meets and dates where I'll have the best chance to make some good attempts."

He added that the planning is already underway: "Elisabeth (his wife) and I have started looking at the dates."

The Hunt for Records

Jakob Ingebrigtsen. Photo: Imago

Ingebrigtsen has specific venues in mind that could provide the right conditions for his record-breaking ambitions.

"Yes, most tracks are good to run on, but any track can also have poor conditions. It's a bit of a lottery, but it's generally safer further south in Europe," he noted. "Monaco has been a very good race for many years, Paris is good, and Silesia is very good. Those are meets I've singled out."

"And most likely Bislett," he added, referring to the iconic stadium in Oslo. "That's always something I look forward to."

The 2026 season, which features the European Championships in Birmingham but no global championship, could provide an ideal window for these attempts.

His older brother, Henrik Ingebrigtsen, fully supports his sibling's ambitious goals. "If he just recreates the form he had in March-April, it's absolutely within reach. It's actually realistic to talk about two or three world records," said Henrik.

Henrik also highlighted the significance of Jakob's current 3,000m record of 7:17.55, set in Silesia in 2024. "In my eyes, that's actually one of the strongest world records out there," he stated.

Before his injury troubles last winter, Jakob Ingebrigtsen notably set two world records in a single indoor race in Lievin, France. During his world record mile run of 3:45.14, he also passed the 1,500-meter mark in a record-breaking 3:29.63.