Track's greatest rivalries: Josh Kerr vs. Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the men's 1500m at Paris 2024
The men’s 1500m at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 is set to feature one of the biggest rivalries in the world of athletics.
The competition is between the two fastest runners in the men’s 1500m — defending Olympic gold medallist Jakob Ingebrigtsen and reigning World Champion Josh Kerr.
While the two have faced off repeatedly going back to 2016, the rivalry between the Tokyo 2020 Olympic record holder Ingebrigtsen from Norway and Great Britain’s Kerr, first kicked off a year ago at the 2023 World Athletics Championship in Budapest.
The back-and-forth between the two has included Ingebrigtsen claiming he could beat Kerr blindfolded and Kerr offering that Ingebrigtsen has flaws.
Is it bravado? Harmless fun? Or perhaps just a way to try to get into each other's heads?
Whatever the answer, as the 1500m competition approaches, this will be one of the most-anticipated races you could hope to see at the Stade de France in Paris.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Team Norway poses with the scoreboard after setting an Olympic record and winning the gold medal in the Men's 1500m Final on day fifteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium.
What to know about the rivalry between Josh Kerr and Jakob Ingebrigtsen at Paris 2024
The rivalry between the 26-year-old from Great Britain and the 23-year-old from Norway all started at the 2023 World Championship in Budapest on 23 August, when Kerr beat the Olympic gold medalist in the 1500m in an upset.
Ingebrigtsen had led throughout the qualifying and semi-finals only to drop into the silver medal position behind Kerr at the finish. Kerr took the gold and the world title with a time of 3:29:38, Ingebrigtsen finished in 3:29.65.
For context, at Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021), Ingebrigtsen won the 1500m with a time of 3:28.32. Kerr took bronze at 3:29.05.
Finishing behind Kerr didn’t sit well for the Olympic Champion. Ingebrigtsen downplayed his second-place finish, attributing it to himself coming down with a sore throat. He discounted Kerr as a worthy rival, calling him “just the next guy.” A refrain that he has carried through into 2024.
Shortly after this upset, Ingebrigtsen was forced to call off his 2024 indoor season as he recovered from an Achilles injury, while Kerr continued to race, setting a new two-mile indoor world best of 8:00.67 at the Millrose Games.
It happens that Ingebrigtsen holds the outdoor two-mile record of 7:54.10.
Ingebrigtsen commented to the media that if he had recovered, he could have beat Kerr “blindfolded.”
This back-and-forth continues and intensifies until the long-awaited rematch!
Great Britain's Josh Kerr and Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen compete in the men's Bowerman Mile at the Diamond League Prefontaine Classic 2024.
Kerr and Ingebrigtsen meet again at the 2024 Prefontaine Classic in the Bowerman Mile
The 2024 Prefontaine Classic Diamond League, held in Eugene, Oregon, on 25 May, marked the rivals' first match following the World Championships in Budapest and a nine-month battle of words.
The tension was palpable as the pair took their places at the Bowerman Mile. Ingebrigtsen, the reigning champ of this event, having won the year prior with a time of 3:43.73, setting a national record, meet record, and the third-fastest mile ever run.
Both athletes were starting for the first time of the season, with Ingebrigtsen on the mend from his Achilles injury and Kerr selective in his races.
And it was to be Kerr’s race. From 600 meters out, Kerr outran Ingebrigtsen to win in 3:45.34, launching his signature sunglasses into the audience in celebration.
With this win, Kerr bested Ingebrigtsen for the second consecutive race and established a new British record and a world-leading time for the season.
For his part, Ingebrigtsen crossed the finish line at 3:45.60.
Kerr proved that his World Championship win was no fluke and that he was not, in fact, “just the next guy” for Ingebrigtsen to beat. Kerr shared that he’s continuing to build toward something special heading into Paris 2024, saying, “3:45 right now is good enough, but we've got to make some progress.”
Ingebrigtsen said he was satisfied with his result, pointing to ongoing training leading up to this race, saying his fitness was “better than he was expecting.” Adding, “Even though I have been injured, I still think this is an improvement from last year.”
Did Ingebrigtsen consider battling to retake the lead after Kerr passed him? Basically, no. Ingebrigtsen said the race was “more of a time trial for me.” Adding that he did not see this as his final test heading into Paris.
Kerr now has two wins over Ingebrigtsen heading into Paris 2024. Kerr has not raced in the 1500m/mile since the Prefontaine Classic, but Ingebrigtsen has been making noise right up to Games time.
Ingebrigtsen makes a statement heading into Paris 2024
Since that meeting in Eugene, Ingebrigtsen has run four 1500m finals—in the Diamond League, European Athletics Championships and Norwegian Championships—and he has won every time.
Kerr has chosen not to run at these events, which is one point of contention for Ingebrigtsen, who prides himself on vigorously competing.
Ingebrigtsen spoke to Olympics.com on his way to winning his third 1500/5000m double at the European champs in Rome, becoming the first man to win six individual European golds.
In the exchange, Ingebrigtsen resurfaced his refrain about Kerr just being the “the next guy.”
Adding, “I think with the level being so high in the 1500m and the 5k, rivalries they definitely come and go.
“The positive is that the top level is so good […]. Everybody has to be very focused and not take anything for granted. You can never underestimate the competition. So, it’s all about focusing, doing what you can [to represent yourself] and executing.”
Ingebrigtsen continued his lead-up to Paris at the Diamond League in Monaco, where he showed that he’s back in top form, shattering the European 1500m record and setting the fastest time in nine years, clocking 3:26.73, improving on his own personal best time.
Following that performance, Ingebrigtsen told Athletics Weekly, “I am excited about Paris. I feel strong. I will do my best and hopefully bring home the gold medal.”
Kerr, by contrast, opted to “grind quietly” and train ahead of Paris.
Although the rivalry continues, Kerr recently told Runners World, “I don’t believe anyone’s good enough to beat me on 6 August.”
Who will claim gold—the defending Olympic gold medallist, the reigning World Champion, or maybe a new rival will emerge? We’ll find out when the Kerr and Ingebrigtsen meet in the 1500m, set for 2 to 6 August.