- John Steffensen has entered the ongoing rivalry between Ingebrigtsen and Kerr
- The two 1500m stars will compete against each other in Paris
- Experience every moment, medal, and event of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 live, ad-free, and on demand in 4K exclusively on Stan Sport.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen has been criticized for his arrogance during the Olympic Games in Paris.
However, John Steffensen appreciates the confidence displayed by the Norwegian distance running star.
Ingebrigtsen made headlines before even running by taking a jab at his main competitor, Josh Kerr, asserting that the British world champion “never competes.”
‘It’s hard to categorize him as a rival when he’s often absent,’ remarked the 23-year-old. ‘He’s dubbed as the Brit who skips races. I aim to participate in as many events as possible and want to engage the crowd.’
He then delivered an impressive performance during the 1500m heats, showing exceptional ease by allowing his competitors a 20m head start before overtaking them effortlessly.
While critics have termed Ingebrigtsen’s tactics as “disrespectful” and “arrogant,” Athens silver medalist Steffensen believes the rivalry is beneficial to the sport.
“I absolutely love it,” Steffensen expressed to Daily Mail Australia. “I admire Josh Kerr too. This is precisely what the sport requires.”
“There’s nothing arrogant about it. Ultimately, Jakob Ingebrigtsen has demonstrated why he’s the best in the world since he was 16, and he deserves to compete and act as he sees fit to optimize his performance.”
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Jakob Ingebrigtsen has been encouraged to embrace his ‘arrogant’ ways
The Norwegian running ace has intensified his verbal clash with Josh Kerr
“We see the same spirit in Josh Kerr when he competes. He reciprocates the intensity, and I adore that from him as well,” noted Steffensen.
He added that the behavior of these two competitors serves as an inspiration for young athletes.
“These individuals wear their emotions openly. They stake their claims and vocalize their ambitions.”
“I encourage young athletes to step out of the shadows and express their confidence. Be trailblazers.”
“There’s a clear reason why Josh Kerr is a world champion; it’s his mindset. And Jakob Ingebrigtsen is destined to be one of the greatest distance runners ever.”
“I feel that the conventional expectations some hold are misguided. Ultimately, I want these athletes to entertain. Ask me if these two are entertaining? Oh, absolutely.”
The 41-year-old implied that nearly every athlete carries similar thoughts regarding their rivals but may hesitate to voice them publicly.
John Steffensen believes this rivalry is vital for the sport
He suggested every athlete feels similarly toward their rivals
“Ninety-nine percent of athletes think similarly but hesitate to voice it,” he remarked.
“One cannot aim to be the best in the world without that mindset. Society often pressures them to conceal it, which is puzzling to me.”
“We’re witnessing a colosseum of competition, observing the best athletes go head-to-head, and this competitive essence manifests in various ways.”
“It’s essential to embrace all forms of competition exhibited by athletes.”
Ingebrigtsen and Kerr are set to conflict in the men’s 1500m semi-final on Sunday night in Paris.
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