Olympic Games legend reveals the thought that crosses EVERY athlete’s mind amid Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s feud with Josh Kerr

Jakob Ingebrigtsen has been accused of arrogance during the Olympic Games in Paris.

But John Steffensen absolutely loves what he is seeing from the Norwegian distance running ace.

Ingebrigtsen set his stall before even reaching the start line in France by firing a barb at arch rival Josh Kerr, in which he claimed the world champion from Britain ‘never races’.

‘It is difficult to refer to him as a rival when he is never there,’ the 23-year-old said. ‘He is known as the Brit who never competes. I try to enter as many races as I can and I want to be here to entertain.’

He then followed that up with a 1500m heat performance in which he barely got out of second gear. The Norwegian didn’t bother to brace for the starting gun and then allowed his rivals to stretch out 20m in front of him from the outset before cruising around the outside lanes for the finish line.

Critics have labelled Ingebrigtsen’s approach as ‘disrespectful’ and ‘arrogant’ but Athens silver medallist Steffensen believes that the Norwegian, and his rivalry with Kerr, is brilliant for the sport.

‘Love, love, love, love, love it,’ Stan Sport ambassador Jeffersen told Daily Mail Australia. ‘I love Josh Kerr too. This is what the sport needs. 

‘There’s nothing arrogant about it. At the end of the day, Jakob Ingebrigtesen, from 16 years of age has proven why he is the best in the world and he deserves to run and behave however he feels he needs to behave to get the best out of him. 

The Norwegian running ace has lit a fuse in his war of words with Josh Kerr

‘We’ve seen that with Josh Kerr when he runs. Josh gives it as much as he gets and I love that from Josh as well.’

Steffensen said the two arch rivals’ behaviour sets a perfect example for aspiring youngsters. 

‘These guys are wearing their heart on their sleeves. They are putting their names on the line. They’re claiming what the want to achieve, they’re saying what they want to do. 

‘This is what I love to encourage kids: get out of the shadows of hiding how good you feel, and step out and proclaim it, speak it. Be a trailblazer. 

‘There is a reason why Josh Kerr is world champion, because he does that and thinks that way. There is a reason Jakob Ingebrigtsen will go down as one of the greatest distance runners in the world. 

‘I think this conservatism that people want, and they still want great performances is an overreach and I think at the end of the day I ask these athletes to entertain me. If you ask me if these two guys are entertaining, oh yes they are.’ 

The 41-year-old went as far as to suggest that almost every athlete shares the same view of their main rival, but don’t wish to publicly express it.  

But Aussie track legend John Steffensen says that the rivalry is just what the sport needs

He added that every athlete shares the same attitude towards their rivals

‘Ninety nine per cent of athletes out there are thinking it, now start saying it and showing it,’ he said. 

‘You can’t aim to be the best in the world and not be thinking it. We’re asking them to hide it because for some reason it doesn’t fit our social narrative of life. 

‘We’re watching a colosseum, we’re watching the best athletes in the world go mano a mano and there is always going to be a level of this competitiveness and it gets shown in different ways. 

‘It’s about embracing every way an athlete shows how they compete.’

Ingebrigtsen and Kerr will meet in the 1500m men’s semi-final on Sunday night in Paris. 

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