Will Jakob Ingebrigtsen return to his top level?

I’d like to hope he can regain his former greatness but my heart tells me it’s not looking great.

He’s clearly not been able to train well (relative to what he needs). See all the Instagram posts with running in old Nike 4% shoes etc.

This achilles issue is also clearly now a recurring problem (two years in a row).

Now combine the fact that the achilles is notoriously problematic once issues begin and both of his brothers trajectory once they started breaking down.

Don’t write him off and I wish him the best but if I had to I’d bet on him finally being somewhat done.

The only "authentic" thing I see is that Western countries will return to their "misery" at running.

Look at what is happening:

- Western countries are wining medals using African runners (Cases Kipketer, Mo Farah, Sifan Hassan, the Spanish runners and now the Italian runners)

- Real Talents from U20 World Championships are left down, forgotten.

I have at least three examples from Ethiopia.

Depends what we are talking about here.

A 3:25 is looking way more difficult now.

However, winning a future Gold against a bunch of pussies in the 10,000m...bring it on.

Don't understand how this is even a debate right now, he ran the indoor mile and 1500m WR and won double at world indoors this year. He's been gone only for a single season and has had one race where he wasn't quite sharp enough. Way too premature to be having this discussion.

You answered your own question with the first sentence of your post.

Unfortunately not this year. But hopefully next year he can get back to normal form and attempt WR’s.

Achilles issues can take a long time to heal - patience is key. Does Jakob have the patience? It's nutrition, PT, orthotics, and time. Even with Tendonosis, surgery doesn't have to be in the mix with proper treatment.

I can see him coming back and contesting for gold medals and world records in the 5000. Maybe the 10000 too?

Taking the question literally, I think there was a chance Jakob had already peaked even if he had stayed healthy all of this year. We have to remember what Jakob's top level included:

- A 7:17 3K. For almost 30 years, it seemed crazy when someone even attempted to run at 7:20 pace, with everyone knowing they would fail. Jakob crushed that record.

- Being so good in championship 5Ks that "Who would win in a championship 5K, peak Bekele or peak Jakob?" became a reasonable question.

- Olympic gold in the 1500 and a 3:26 PR.

Yes, shoe technology has contributed to these achievements, but Jakob's top level has been reached by very, very few runners. So if he never reaches it again I will be bummed out, but from a purely statistical perspective I will not be surprised.

Galen Rupp picked up some big injuries and he's still a 2:06 guy

For your answer you only have to look at history. Name a top level athlete from the past that didn’t experience an injury or have a bad season at some point in their career? The list would be a very small one. Realistically he’s still got a good 4-5 years where he could break the 1500m/mile WRs. What you are seeing now is simply a blip on the radar.

I believe Jakob's career is over. Achilles can take years to recover properly from.

1. Jakob has not shown patience. He continues to run and is pushing it now.

2. Jakob is not like Brazier with ungodly natural talent. He’s a workhouse and his inputs are the only way to get world class outputs. He will not be able to handle the training load he previously had.

3. His largest weak spot has been top end speed. Achilles injuries generally prevent this from ever coming back relative to endurance so his chances of being dominant again are slim.

4. Finally he does not have the mindset to continue to work at something where he is not seeing success build on success. He is running to be the best ever. When he realizes he can’t he will give up.

He had an amazing career. It was of average length and he should be happy ending it here.

From 1 to 10, Passant, how much do you miss the everchanging sand dunes of the Sahara desert?

Living in France seems like a vampiric drain on your happiness.

1. Has he not had a full seasons break?

2. Not an ungodly talent? Olympic gold at 20, gold in both 1500&5000 at europeans at 17, double gold 5000&3000mH at u20 europeans at 16. World record for 14 year olds with a 3:49(!), world record for 14 year olds with a 1:52,60. Youngest ever sub 4 min mile at 16 year old, later that year running faster than the fastest mile for a 17 year old, set by Steve Cram, still only 16 year old. The same year he made his 3000mH senior debut, besting the qualifying time for the world championship with 5 seconds. Still 16 years old. How is this not ungodly talent?

4. At 19 he was injured and had to sit out the full indoor season. The year after he set the european record and the u20 world record in the 1500. Finished the season off with a 61th in an outdoor 10k due to sickness. The year after he became olympic champion.

I think the most probable outcome is that he won't reach the same peak again. I would guess he has ~30 % chance he manages to break his 1500m PR.

I dont think he will,but id never completely write him off ,either. You dont win as many medals as he has,and not be a force to be reckoned with.

I wish him the best but Achillea injuries are toooough. It's not like dealing with a stress fracture or injured muscle. I know he's been training like a pro from a young age with a lot more miles on him than most 24 year olds but I'd love to see what he can do through his 20s in peak shape.