Ingebrigtsen wins 5000m, then pulls out of 1500m showdown
Jakob Ingebrigtsen has withdrawn from Sunday's men's 1500m final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest. The decision came the morning after the 25-year-old Norwegian won the 5000m final at the inaugural staging of the event, according to BBC Sport.
Ingebrigtsen, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, said he is not in a position to run back-to-back races. He does not want to risk his fitness by lining up again on Sunday. He says his body is not ready.
The withdrawal closes a remarkable opening chapter to his comeback. Ingebrigtsen returned to racing last month after an 11-month lay-off that included Achilles surgery. He won European 5000m gold in his first race back since the World Championships in September 2025.
Form since then has been mixed. He finished fourth at the Diamond League Final after trying to front-run the race, to lead from the front and force the pace alone. Then came Friday night's victory over 12 and a half laps in Budapest to take the Ultimate Championship 5000m title.
That win had set up a long-awaited clash. Ingebrigtsen and Britain's Josh Kerr, the 2023 world champion, were due to meet over 1500m for the first time in two years. The 1500m is four laps of the track, often decided by positioning and a final sprint.
Sunday's final will still be deep without him. It is set to include Kerr, Olympic champion Cole Hocker, Olympic bronze medallist Yared Nuguse, reigning world champion Isaac Nader and 2022 world champion Jake Wightman. Ingebrigtsen had been confirmed in the 1500m final through an exceptional invitation announced by World Athletics.
The withdrawal follows a noisy few weeks off the track. Ingebrigtsen criticised Kerr for missing the European Championships, saying athletes who skip major championships are "ruining" the sport. He has also said he has been "misunderstood" after criticism of his recent comments in which he called rivals "losers" and "a bunch of cowards".
What makes this stand out is the trade at the heart of it. A 5000m title, won so soon after major surgery and a long winter of rehabilitation, is a serious statement. Losing the most anticipated 1500m of the season is the cost. For fans, this means Budapest still gets a championship-calibre 1500m, just without its most familiar duel.
