Father and former coach of Olympic champion charged with child abuse, lawyer says

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The father and former coach of Olympic champion runner Jakob Ingebrigtsen has been charged with abusing one of his other children, his lawyer said Monday, escalating an ongoing conflict involving one of Norway's most prominent sporting families.

Ingebrigtsen won the 1,500-meter race at the Tokyo Olympics and has emerged as one of Europe's biggest track-and-field stars after being coached since childhood by his father Gjert Ingebrigtsen. But he and two of his brothers — who are also top-level runners — previously accused their father of using "physical violence and threats as part of our upbringing."

Police launched an investigation into Gjert Ingebrigtsen after that, and on Monday charged him with having physically and mentally abused another of his younger children. Norwegian newspaper VG, citing the indictment, reported that the abuse took place during a four-year period and included threats, coercion and hitting his child with a wet towel on at least one occasion.

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Monday’s charges did not relate to the 23-year-old Jakob Ingebrigtsen or his older brothers Henrik and Filip, the three prominent runners. Police did not disclose the identity of the child.

From left, brothers Filip Ingebrigtsen, Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Henrik Ingebrigtsen, of Norway, react after competing in the men's 5000-meter final at the World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, on Sept. 30, 2019. Their father has been charged with abusing one of his other children, his lawyer said on Monday. (AP Photo/Nick Didlick, File)