Jakob Ingebrigtsen stunned by shock 1500m exit at World Championships

Jakob Ingebrigtsen described his performance as "terrible" after he suffered a shock exit from the men's 1500 metres heats at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, finishing eighth in his heat and failing to progress to the semi-finals.

The 24-year-old Norwegian, a two-time Olympic champion and multiple world indoor titleholder, said his season had been disrupted by injury and that he had not raced for six months prior to the championships. "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," he told BBC Sport. "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."

Britain's Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman advanced from the heat, as did their compatriot Neil Gourley, boosting their prospects in an event where recent championship crowns have eluded Ingebrigtsen. Several other pre-race favourites also failed to advance: France's Azeddine Habz and Kenyan teenager Phanuel Koech, two of the season's fastest 1500m runners, were among those to exit in the heats.

The men's 1500m semi-finals are scheduled for Monday at 13:30 BST, with the final set for Wednesday. Ingebrigtsen, whose only missing major 1500m title is the world outdoor crown after being beaten by Kerr and Wightman at the past two global championships, will not have the chance to pursue it in the same Tokyo stadium where he won Olympic 1500m gold four years ago.

Earlier this year Ingebrigtsen began the season strongly, breaking the world indoor 1500m and mile records in the same race in February and securing 1500m and 3,000m golds at the World Indoor Championships the following month. However, he said an Achilles issue forced him to stop competing and described the period before Tokyo as "pitch dark". "I have taken the trip down to the injury cellar several times this spring. It has been pitch dark there," he told Norwegian broadcaster NRK.

Away from the track, Ingebrigtsen's family has also been in the spotlight. His father, Gjert Ingebrigtsen, was cleared earlier this year of abusing Jakob but was found guilty of violence against his daughter, Ingrid.

Despite the setback over 1,500m, Ingebrigtsen is entered in the men's 5,000m, an event in which he has claimed the past three global titles. He said he believes he is better placed to challenge for gold in the longer event and is scheduled to return to the track for the 5,000m heats on Friday.

Ingebrigtsen's elimination is among a series of surprising results in Tokyo that have opened the field in middle-distance events and left several established names reassessing their preparations amid injuries and an intense competitive calendar. The 1500m will proceed with a mix of established championship performers and less-expected qualifiers as contenders reposition themselves for the remaining rounds.