Team GB star Josh Kerr has been accused of "ruining" long-distance running by rival Jakob Ingebrigtsen after skipping this week's European Championships. The 28-year-old Scot's decision to sit out the seven-day competition has sparked criticism from the Norwegian athlete.
Kerr's decision to skip the Euros
Last month, Kerr set a new world record for the men's mile in one of the athletics feats of the year. A few weeks later, he won gold in the same event at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Many had expected him to carry that momentum into the Euros, but the Olympic silver medallist decided to sit out the competition.
"You can't hold that peak for that long," Kerr explained after insisting he had no regrets about his no-show. "I need to go back to the drawing board a little bit and give myself a bit of a rest. Or else I'm going to be flying close to the sun here."
Ingebrigtsen's criticism
However, his decision hasn't gone down well with Ingebrigtsen, who feels that Kerr has damaged the event - and the sport - by not attending. "[I'm] very disappointed. And I think a lot of people should be, because that is what championships are all about," the 25-year-old told the BBC. "It's not for us as athletes to choose almost where to participate."
"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."
A history of rivalry
Tension between Kerr and Ingebrigtsen is nothing new. Their rivalry dates back to 2023, when Kerr overtook the Scandinavian with 200 metres to go to claim the 1500m title at the World Championships in Budapest. After the race, Ingebrigtsen dismissed Kerr's achievement, insisting the Edinburgh native was "just the next guy." In response, Kerr labelled him "insecure."
The trash talk intensified in the buildup to the Paris 2024 Olympics. Ingebrigtsen boasted that he could beat Kerr "blindfolded." However, Kerr won silver in the 1500m, while Ingebrigtsen missed out on a medal, finishing fourth. Relations have generally cooled since then, but Kerr's absence in Birmingham threatens to reignite their long-standing feud in a big way.
