Insured process in Norway: What is it about?

The name Influgsen has stood for the greatest success in athletics in Norway for years. The three brothers Jakob, Filip and Henrik have collected over 30 medals in international competitions. Long and medium-distance runners Jakob won only last year at the Olympic Games in Paris The gold medal over the 5000 meters.

The family and in particular father and coach Gjert also made a television series with the name « Team Inflieden » all over Norway. A camera team accompanied the family for a total of nine years. But the success story of the Inbrigtens has taken a turn in recent years that stirring Norway. First the children turned away from their father and fired him as a coach, since the end of March the family has been going to court regularly. The accusation: With physical and psychological violence, father Gjert is said to have trimmed his children at top performance. The 59-year-old denies the allegations and claims that he never applied violence.

Gjert Inbrigtens is in court: questionable training methods

The trial against the father and former success coach of the running stars began at the end of March in front of the district court in Sandnes in Norweg. The process is closely accompanied in the Norwegian media landscape. Almost every day there are publications with new, sometimes terrifying details that are testified in court.

As several media reported at the start of the process, Jakob said in court: « My upbringing was very shaped by fear, everything was controlled and decided for me ». Jakob also described physical abuse. He was beaten at least 20 times by his father, after an accident with a scooter, the father even kicked him in his stomach. « Gjert is not my father, but a psychopath. At some point I can no longer, » Jakob Ingigtsen is said to have even said about his father during a training camp in 2021. His physiotherapist presented this in the process last week, as several media unanimously report.

Break with the father: Was there violence in the family?

The break of the children with their father became visible in 2022. First of all, the separation with the coach was announced as a sporting decision, followed by one later Publication in the Norwegian daily newspaper Verdens Gang (VG). In a guest post, Jakob, Filip and Henrik first described publicly how their father and coach is said to have tortured them physically and mentally. « We grew up with a father who was very aggressive and controlling and used physical violence and threats as part of his upbringing, » the athletes write. In addition to the strict educational and training methods, they write of permanent pressure to perform and your own fear of failure. « When we were younger, we were a large group of siblings who got through it together. Now the situation is unbearable. »

An incident with the youngest daughter led to the final separation. In 2022, the father is said to have hit his daughter in the face with a wet towel. Then they would have ended the collaboration with their father. In addition to her brothers, the now 19-year-old daughter also says in court. She has already ended her athletics career. In court, she also described a physical assault. When the then twelve or 13 -year -old daughter forgot her pulse knife for training, the father insulted her as « stupid » and hit her face.

Gjert Insbrigtsen denies the allegations against him in court

Gjert Insbrigtsen denies the allegations in court and sees himself as an excessive protective father. In court, he emphasized that he was far from a perfect father but never used violence. Its defenders are mainly based on the records of the TV series « Team Inbrigtsen ». There is no misconduct by the father in the records, according to the defense.

The appearance of the mother of the athletes was also eagerly awaited in court last week. After she had arrived at the court with her husband, her statement took place at her request, including the public. She doesn’t have to say against her husband in court. The process is scheduled until May 16. Gjert Insbrigtsen threatens up to six years in prison for a conviction.