Jakob Ingebrigtsen: Why Injury May Delay His Chase of Hicham El Guerrouj’s 1500m World Record

Jakob Ingebrigtsen

Jakob Ingebrigtsen: Why Injury May Delay His Chase of Hicham El Guerrouj’s 1500m World Record

Festus Chuma 17:28 - 21.05.2025

Ingebrigtsen postpones his outdoor season due to Achilles irritation, prioritizing recovery while eyeing Hicham El Guerrouj’s 1500m record.

Jakob Ingebrigtsen has made headlines again for a recent injury that forced him to delay his outdoor season opener.

The Norwegian Olympic champion, who had just come off a phenomenal indoor campaign, was preparing to carry his momentum into the summer. However, a familiar foe—the Achilles—halted those plans.

The 24-year-old had been training at high altitude in Sierra Nevada, Spain, following a strong start to 2025, where he shattered world records in the Mile and 1500m short track events.

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But a nagging irritation in his Achilles tendon, reminiscent of an injury he dealt with last year, made him hit pause on his intense preparation.

“I went to altitude in Sierra Nevada, Spain. Training was going very well. Unfortunately, I had a small irritation in my Achilles… very similar to the injury that I was out for a longer period of time last winter, last year,” Ingebrigtsen said in a video posted to his YouTube channel.

Returning Home for Recovery

After noticing the symptoms, Ingebrigtsen cut his training camp short and returned to Norway to consult with his physiotherapists. With the World Championships in Tokyo later this year circled as one of his key goals, the decision was made to prioritize recovery over competition.

“Unfortunately, I was not able to continue running in training 100%, mainly taking precautions, lowering the risk, stopping running to get 100% healthy,” he added.

The move meant skipping the season-opening Diamond League meet on home soil—a disappointment for the hometown fans, but a necessary choice for the long game.

Focus on Long-Term Goals

“It sucks. I don't want to be injured or have these problems but unfortunately, that's a big part of doing sports," Ingebrigtsen said.

Before the setback, Ingebrigtsen looked in peak form. During the indoor season, he dominated every race he entered and etched his name into the record books once more.

At the Liévin Mixed Zone, he raced to a blistering 3:29.63 in the 1500m short track—setting a new world record.

“This race was, as I said yesterday, all about testing myself, and seeing where I'm at and how my training's been going, and seeing my fitness,” Ingebrigtsen shared after that performance.

“So, of course, I'm very lucky to be in the position where we can put out a good plan, (and) that we're able to follow that plan exactly and do all the right things to make it happen.”

Now back home and slowly resuming training, Ingebrigtsen is determined to ensure this setback doesn’t derail the rest of his season.

Though sidelined for now, Jakob Ingebrigtsen remains one of the most formidable names in middle-distance running—eager to return, stronger and smarter.

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