Jakob Ingebrigtsen revealed on Friday in a social media post that he underwent surgery to repair a nagging Achilles injury that sidelined him for most of 2025 — despite him making an appearance at world championships in Tokyo last September.
Ingebrigtsen was shown in the video with his wife Elisabeth, daughter Filippa and was walking with crutches with a walking boot on his left foot in California.
He said a recent setback made him get the surgery.
“Around 2 weeks ago, the Achilles flared up again and we finally took the decision to travel to America for surgery,” he said. “This is of course not something to be taken lightly but absolutely the right thing for the longevity of my career.”
Ingebrigtsen added, “The surgery went very smoothly and I’m relieved to have a clear path of recovery back to the start line after many months of uncertainty.”
Typical recovery timeline from Achilles surgery is between six and nine months and Ingebrigtsen is expected to miss the entire year of competition.
The decision to have the surgery is not a complete surprise since Ingebrigtsen struggled with persistent Achilles for most of 2025. He stormed into the year with a 3:45.14 indoor world record in the mile in Lievin, France and shattered the mark set just a week earlier by Yared Nuguse at the Millrose Games in New York in 3:46.63.
“This is what happens in Lievin,” Ingebrigtsen said at the time. “I’m a very happy man. You have to be focused for the whole race. It’s tough, but it’s worth it.”
But in May his team confirmed that he suffered a slight Achilles tendon strain which delayed his training and his start to the outdoor season.
“Most likely, he will have to delay the start of his season,” his spokesperson said in a statement when the injury was revealed. “They’re working on getting it under control but he’s taking no risks.”
Ingebrigtsen’s plan before that injury was to appear at the Diamond League’s Bislett Games in Norway in front of a fan-friendly home crowd. He worked his way to Tokyo for world championships in September, but failed to advance out of the first
round of the 1,500 meters.
With the surgery completed, Ingebrigtsen acknowledged the long recovery he faces and admitted that to continued setbacks he dealt with last year compromised too much of his training.
“Running is not always sunshine and rainbows but injuries are part of the sport and setbacks are a part of life,” Ingebrigtsen also said in his post. “Grateful to have an amazing team and support system around me.”
In a video posted to YouTube on Saturday, Ingebrigtsen is shown after the surgery explained in detail why he underwent the procedure.
