Josh Kerr and Jakob Ingebrigtsen are accustomed to trading blows on the track, but the Norwegian star has added another string to their compelling rivalry with remarks about Kerr in the media.
Ingebrigtsen criticised Kerr for being one of the athletes “ruining” the sport in light of the Briton's absence from the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.
On his long-awaited return from an Achilles injury, Ingebrigtsen stormed to a stunning 5,000m gold on Monday to become the joint-most successful athlete in European Championships history.
The 25-year-old chose not to compete in the 1,500m, but neither will his rival Kerr, with Jake Wightman the favourite to secure victory in the race on Saturday.
“It’s not for us as athletes to choose almost where to participate," Ingebrigtsen said. "We have these championships for a reason, and that is for the best athletes to compete – that is the whole point.
“So I definitely think it is ruining the sport if we are not participating. We all have different plans, but I could never see myself in that position.”
So why is Kerr not competing in the European Championships? We explain below.
Why is Josh Kerr not competing in the 1500m at the European Athletics Championships?
It's been a stunning summer for Kerr as he smashed the mile world record at the Diamond League meeting in London before winning Commonwealth gold over the same distance on home soil in Glasgow.
Kerr followed a strict two-month programme, dubbed 'Project 222', in pursuit of Hicham El Guerrouj's 27-year mile record and the Scottish middle-distance runner prioritised being in the best possible shape for a home Commonwealth Games.
However, with such a quick turnaround between the Commonwealth Games and European Athletics Championships, Kerr opted out of the latter, revealing he was “flying close to the sun” of injury.
While Ingebrigtsen wasn't impressed with Kerr's decision by stating that he would “never” prioritise a record over a title, the Briton was eager to avoid a repeat of the calf injury he sustained during the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
