Gjert Ingebrigtsen receives coaching accreditation for European Athletics Championships for Portugal

Gjert Ingebrigtsen, the prominent Norwegian athletics coach, has unexpectedly secured accreditation to coach at the European Athletics Championships, just weeks after reports indicated his coaching career had concluded. Ingebrigtsen, 60, will be coaching Portuguese runners Jose Carlos Pinto and Patricia Silva.

Earlier in July, news broke that Ingebrigtsen and Narve Gilje Nordås had ended their 13-year collaboration. Per Svela, also part of the training group, told VG that the partnership with Ingebrigtsen had become too costly and that it was time to part ways. Simultaneously, TV 2 reported that Ingebrigtsen had also ceased coaching foreign athletes within the Viking Athletics group.

Following these reports, Erlend Slokvik, sports director at the Norwegian Athletics Federation, informed VG and other media outlets that Ingebrigtsen was retiring from coaching. However, the situation has taken a surprising turn. Ingebrigtsen has received coaching accreditation for the European Athletics Championships, scheduled from August 10 to 16, representing Portugal.

Both Pinto and Silva were previously part of Viking Athletics. Collis Birmingham, listed as the agent for Pinto and Silva, confirmed to VG that the Portuguese athletes continue to train with Ingebrigtsen. The Portuguese Athletics Federation (FPA) also stated that, according to their information, Gjert Ingebrigtsen remains the coach for both athletes and they have not received any notification of changes to their coaching staff. Ingebrigtsen himself has declined to comment on whether he is still coaching the Portuguese duo.

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According to our information, Gjert Ingebrigtsen is still the coach for both Jose Carlos Pinto and Patricia Silva. We have not received any notification from either of them about changes in their coaching staff.