J.Akob Ingebrigtsen, Olympic 1,500m champion and multiple world medalist, not defending his European cross country title at the event that will take place on December 10th at Laeken Park in Brussels (Belgium). The Norwegian athlete has suffered physical discomfort in recent weeks and, before the Olympic year – in which he also the European Championship is heldchose not to participate in this cross country championship.
Thus, Ingebrigtsen will be absent from this event for the first time since 2015. In the absolute, in the individual event, he won the title twice, in 2021 and 2022. But the Norwegian also shone in the lower categories, with four titles in the under 20 category.
“Jakob has decided that he will not participate in the European cross country this year,” said Espen Skoland, spokesperson for the Ingebrigtsen brothers. “He wants to focus on recovery and training after a long, difficult season. He has an important year ahead of him and he wants to focus on that.”
