Paris 2024: ‘I guess he did show up’ – Jakob Ingebrigtsen appears to end feud with Josh Kerr after men's 1500m final
Updated 07/08/2024 at 07:45 GMT+1
Reacting to missing out on a medal in the men's 1500m final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen appeared to end his feud with Team GB's Josh Kerr. Ingebrigtsen was the defending champion but faded at the finish and had to settle for fourth as USA's Cole Hocker took a surprise gold from Kerr and American Yared Nuguse in second and third respectively.
Watch thrilling 1500m final as Hocker defeats GB's Kerr and Ingebrigtsen
Video credit: TNT Sports
Jakob Ingebrigtsen praised fierce rival Josh Kerr and the rest of the medallists after the Norwegian defending Olympic champion had to settle for fourth in the highly anticipated men’s 1500m final at Pair 2024.
Ingebrigtsen and Team GB's Kerr had been embroiled in a war of words over the past 12 months in the lead-up to the Games in the French capital, but the feud appears to now be at an end.
With the needle that existed between the milers, there was more than just gold at stake in Tuesday night’s final.
Kerr, the current world champion, won the bragging rights as he eased past Ingebrigtsen on the final straight, but he was then relegated to silver by a storming Cole Hocker of the United States.
Ingebrigtsen has attempted to diminish Kerr’s achievements in the past, while the Brit has previously questioned his rival’s racing nous, but the Norwegian was magnanimous in defeat this time around.
“Well, I guess he did show up after all…! Hocker and Nuguse as well,” Ingebrigtsen wrote on social media.
“My team always say that ‘because you have a big mouth and is the one to beat, you have everything to lose in competitions’. Today, Cole Hocker, Yared Nuguse and Josh Kerr outsmarted me.
“They were ‘the best guys’ when it really mattered. And I want to congratulate them all on a great performance!”
It was billed as a showdown between Ingebrigtsen and Kerr for gold, with few tipping Hocker to gatecrash the party.
Ingebrigtsen opted to lead from the front and set a blistering early pace before fading over the last 100m and tumbling out of the medals.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2024/08/06/4020970-81557053-2560-1440.jpg)
Team GB's Kerr 'has his head held high' after 'best executed' 1500m of his life
Video credit: TNT Sports
He will at least have a chance to soften the blow of losing his 1500m crown as he attempts to become the Olympic and world champion at 5000m.
“Of course, I am disappointed!” he continued. “Running is the ultimate sport. Everyone can participate. Everyone can set their own goals and achieve them. All you need is to show up.
“Not long ago, I trained alongside kids and average runners at Sandnes stadium. Today, I competed alongside one of my countrymen in an Olympic 1500 final.
“Ten years ago, no one in Norway would have believed this was possible. Until [his brothers] Henrik and Filip showed us all that it is.
- Team GB win silver in men's team sprint as Dutch storm to world record gold
- Kerr: That was my best ever 1500m race but I was beaten by the better man
“I sincerely want to express my gratitude and love to them and the rest of the team, and to my partners and the Norwegian athletics association and all my followers for the support this year. Thank you so much. It means a lot to me!
“Thank you also to all my competitors for putting on a great show today. Congratulations to the guys bringing home the medals!
“Luckily for me, I get to do it all again tomorrow morning.”
- - -
discovery+ is the streaming home of the Olympic Games, and the only place you can watch every moment of Paris 2024 this summer
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement