Jakob Ingebrigtsen suffers shock exit from 1500m heats at World Championships

Jakob Ingebrigtsen described his performance as "terrible" after being eliminated in the men's 1,500 metres heats at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, a shock exit that ends his bid for the outdoor 1,500m title at the stadium where he won Olympic gold four years ago.

The Norwegian, who was eighth in his heat on Sunday and failed to progress, said an injury-disrupted season and a lengthy spell out of competition had left him short of the fitness required. "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. "I was terrible... 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."

Ingebrigtsen, a two-time Olympic and world champion, began the year strongly by breaking the world indoor 1,500m and mile records in the same race in February and by winning 1,500m and 3,000m golds at the World Indoor Championships. An Achilles problem, however, kept him from racing for six months before the Tokyo championships, a layoff he described as "pitch dark" while speaking to Norwegian broadcaster NRK.

British athletes Josh Kerr, Jake Wightman and Neil Gourley advanced from Sunday’s heats, improving their chances for medals, while favourites who had posted the season’s fastest times, France's Azeddine Habz and Kenyan teenager Phanuel Koech, also failed to progress. The 1,500m semi-finals are scheduled for Monday at 13:30 BST, with the final on Wednesday.

Away from the track, Ingebrigtsen has faced recent family turmoil: his father, Gjert Ingebrigtsen, was cleared of abusing Jakob at trial earlier this year but was found guilty of violence against his daughter, Ingrid.

Ingebrigtsen is due to return to competition in the men's 5,000m heats on Friday — an event in which he has won the past three global titles and which he says suits his current condition better. "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," he said, urging focus on the remainder of the championships.