“I was terrible,” admitted Jakob Ingebrigtsen after a shocking exit at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Vying for gold, the Olympic champion returned to debut his outdoor season, only to see his campaign cut short in the heats. Crossing the line eighth in 3:37.84, Ingebrigtsen closed his 2025 season on a disappointing note. The Norwegian, unbeaten at 5000m in the last two championships, had skipped the summer circuit after an Achilles injury disrupted his rhythm. Yet, it wasn’t defeat at the World Championships that weighed on him; it was something entirely unexpected.

Jakob Ingebrigtsen arrived in Tokyo chasing the one prize missing from his glittering résumé, the elusive 1500m world title. Yet instead of glory, the Norwegian prodigy walked away empty-handed. Losing was one thing, but what truly stung was knowing he hadn’t performed anywhere near his best when it mattered most. In a conversation on his YouTube channel, the athlete admitted that it was incredibly frustrating for him not to have given his best when it counted. “But I’m not afraid to lose. I’m more afraid of not doing my best. And on Sunday, that was definitely a realization of that fear,” said the athlete.

He further added, “Because I was having such a bad day and I was not able to do what I thought I should have done. My disappointment has been bigger the last six months than it is now in this championship. I kind of just bring that into the championships. That I have expectations of what I can do based on how far I’ve come. But still, it’s about showing up and trying your best, even though it’s a totally new scenario. But if everybody thought about staying home we would not have a championship.”

In the days leading up to the heats, Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s training had gone according to plan. Nothing overdone, just enough to keep his rhythm steady and confidence high. He felt ready, believing he could glide through the early rounds and build momentum as the championship unfolded. But when race day came, that confidence began to crumble.  What he assumed was just the usual pre-race nerves soon turned into something far worse.

The gun fired, and instantly, he felt it. His legs were heavy, sluggish, almost detached from the rest of him. It was as if the strength he’d built through months of training had vanished in an instant. Just a few metres into the race, he attempted to move ahead, but couldn’t. For most of the contest, he remained at the back of the pack. By the bell lap, trapped in the inner lane with no room to surge forward, he eventually eased off and jogged to an eighth-place. It was a sad end for the athlete, but defeat wasn’t his true enemy; it was the fact that he couldn’t give his best. This season has been a hellish ride for him, one he describes as a dark chapter in his journey.

“Pitch-dark injury cellar,” describes Jakob Ingebrigtsen about his 2025 season

Jakob Ingebrigtsen might have kicked off his season in remarkable form, setting new world indoor records for both the 1500m and the mile in a single race back in February, followed by double gold in the 1500m and 3000m at the World Indoor Championships. However, all his momentum was halted after he suffered an Achilles injury, which sidelined him for several months.

Talking about his challenging stretch before the World Championships, he told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that it was like a “Pitch-dark injury cellar.” He further added, “I have taken the trip down to the injury cellar several times this spring. It has been pitch dark there. This is more or less the worst-case scenario for me because I have had to sit home and watch the whole season go by.”

Jakob Ingebrigtsen began the year in stunning form, smashing indoor world records in both the 1500m and the mile. But even a prodigy has limits; without consistent training, even the most talented athlete struggles to keep pace with a world fully prepared. After his 2025 season plagued by the injury, what do you think comes next for the athlete?