Jakob Ingebrigtsen returned to major-championship racing with a hard-won 5000m gold at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham. The Norwegian, competing for the first time in 2026 after achilles surgery in February, defended his continental title on the opening night in 13:15.29.
A familiar finish, earned the hard way
Ingebrigtsen showed no outward sign of a disrupted preparation. He settled into the pack while world 10,000m champion Jimmy Gressier and Germany's Florian Bremm forced the issue late. Approaching the home straight, Ingebrigtsen was briefly boxed in before finding the gap he needed and delivering his trademark kick.
Four in a row, seventeen and counting
The victory margin was tight. Bremm took silver in 13:15.60, just 0.31 seconds back, while Frenchman Etienne Daguinos won the battle for bronze. For Ingebrigtsen, it secured a fourth consecutive European 5000m crown, adding to the double he achieved at the three previous editions.
