• Jakob Ingebrigtsen accuses his father Gjert of emotional and physical manipulation during his childhood.
• Gjert Ingebrigtsen, 59, denies charges of abuse as the trial begins in Norway.
• The court cases highlight allegations from Jakob and his brothers about their father's controlling behavior.
• The trial is expected to proceed until May 16 at the South-Rogaland District Court.
• Jakob recently won two gold medals at the world indoor championships.

In a striking court appearance, double Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen has detailed allegations of manipulation and abuse against his father, Gjert Ingebrigtsen, as the trial began in Sandnes, Norway. Gjert, aged 59, has pleaded not guilty to accusations of physically and mentally abusing Jakob, the two-time Olympic champion, and his siblings. He faces a potential six-year prison sentence if found guilty.

Jakob shared his traumatic experiences in court, expressing that his upbringing was characterized by fear and control: "Everything was controlled and decided for me. There was an enormous amount of manipulation," he said, according to reports from BBC. The accusations date back to 2023 when Jakob and his brothers publicly claimed abuse from their father in a newspaper column.

The State Police started their investigation last year after the Ingebrigtsen siblings revealed their concerns about their father, a former coach who stepped down in 2022 following tensions within the family. Allegations include physical incidents that occurred during Jakob's early years, such as being slapped or kicked, particularly during formative moments like school performances.

The public interest has heightened as the trial progresses, particularly given the family's previous visibility through the show "Team Ingebrigtsen," which showcased their lives and training routines. Gjert's defensive stance has been that the claims are "baseless," maintaining he never used violence against his children, as reported by Reuters.

As proceedings continue, with Gjert expected to testify next week, the spotlight remains on how these allegations will impact the him and the young athlete's careers. Jakob has recently added further accolades to his name, taking gold at the world indoor championships, showcasing resilience amid his family's ongoing legal battles.

For more details, see Channel News Asia.