Jakob Ingebrigtsen returns from injury woe to win historic European 5,000m gold

Jakob Ingebrigtsen, in his first race for 11 months after injury, won the men’s 5,000m final to become the first man to win four European titles in the same event

There are some people who believe that Jakob Ingebrigtsen lacks a sprint finish. The evidence of the Norwegian’s spectacular victory charge to claim his fourth European 5,000m title suggests otherwise.

So much for all the doubts and questions swirling around him ­coming into the championships. He had been injured. He had not raced for 11 months. He was apparently vulnerable. Yet, as usual, Ingebrigtsen found a way to win gold again.

This surely ranks as one of the most thrilling of his career. Coming around the final bend, he was third and boxed in behind the Frenchman Jimmy Gressier and the German Florian Bremm, yet he found a gap and accelerated to power home in 13min 15.29sec.

Bremm took silver 0.31sec back, with Etienne Daguinos of France claiming bronze. Ingebrigtsen is now the first man to win four European titles in the same event. For good measure, he has also won 17 European gold medals if you include cross-country victories.

It was especially sweet given he has struggled with achilles injuries over the past 17 months. “I dreamt of this moment two weeks ago when I put my name on the list,” said ­Ingebrigtsen, who ran a 54sec last lap. “I crossed my fingers that I would be here and feel better. It was just enough so I am extremely happy. With 600 metres to go, I knew I was going to get that gold medal. I was just hoping and hoping that I was not going to get too tired.”

It was, he also said, one of the greatest wins of his career. “It’s right up there,” he added.

His return had represented the biggest enigma of the week. The brilliant Norwegian had a 14-race ­winning streak at European championships, indoor and out, going back to 2019. But he had also not raced for 11 months. In his imperious past, ­Ingebrigtsen would have been an ­overwhelming favourite against a field that included Switzerland’s Dominic Lobalu, who finished fourth at the Olympics in 2024. Not this time.

And who could blame the doubters, given Ingebrigtsen had surgery on the sheath around his left achilles tendon in February. But he soon proved he hadn’t come to Birmingham for a Balti or a trip to the Ozzy Osbourne exhibition. When Ingebrigtsen was announced to the crowd it took several seconds for the stadium PA to list his many achievements. The Norwegian stood impassively and then raised one finger. On the track he was soon to prove it.