'I was terrible' - Jakob Ingebrigtsen eliminated in 1500m shock at World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo

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It has not taken long for the first shock result of the 2025 World Athletics Championships, with Jakob Ingebrigtsen's 1500m hopes coming to a premature end. The Norwegian superstar was again expected to compete for medals, but an injury-hit year left him short of the required pace in his heat. Great Britain's Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman both qualified in Tokyo on Sunday.

Watch as Ingebrigtsen suffers shock exit in 1500m heats

Video credit: TNT Sports

Jakob Ingebrigtsen said he was "terrible" as he suffered a shock exit in the 1500m heats at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

The 24-year-old, expected to challenge for medals in the event, finished eighth in his heat on Sunday.

Ingebrigtsen has struggled with injuries in the months leading up to this World Championships, and he admitted that he has "lost too much".

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"I was terrible," Ingebrigtsen told BBC Sport. "The race itself was perfect, especially how it turned out. It was gifted to me.

"Unfortunately I have lost too much and I have not been able to prepare.

"Of course, I'm disappointed but it's a reality check that it was never really going to happen. I was holding on for dear life because I love to compete.

"I've been glued to the floor unfortunately. I've not been able to do what is needed, clearly. I just have to look forward."

Watch heartwarming moment Van de Velde stops to help stricken rival over the line

Video credit: TNT Sports

Ingebrigtsen, who won Olympic gold in the event at the delayed Tokyo Games of 2021, has never won a world outdoor 1500 title, having lost to Great Britain's Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman at the past two editions.

Kerr advanced relatively comfortably from his heat, finishing second.

"I don't care who gets through the rounds," Kerr said. "The best guys are going to make the final and I'll deal with who I'm going to deal with come Wednesday, but tomorrow night's my number one priority."

Wightman, meanwhile, won the heat that saw Ingebrigtsen knocked out.

"I thought because [Ingebrigtsen] was going to race, he'd be absolutely rolling. I don't think anyone else could have stepped on a start line at a world champs having not raced at all," Wightman said.

"I couldn't do it, so fair play to him. It's not even him that is the big danger anymore. It's not just a one or two-horse race, it's probably going to be a 12-horse race by the time the final comes around."

How to watch the 2025 World Athletics Championships

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