MÜNCHEN/OSLO (VG) Jakob Ingebrigtsen (21) was reprimanded by commentators VG and NRK for not appearing in front of the press after the EC gold medal on Tuesday. After Thursday’s EC gold, he had much more to say.

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NRK The reporter asked Jakob Ingebrigtsen a question about what he thought of the criticism for not standing up for the rest of the press after gold in the 5,000 yards on Tuesday. From the Norwegian press, only NRK licensees are allowed to speak to the gold winner after the race, in person.

Leif Welhaven at VG wrote that the 21-year-old should “be a little careful“, while NRK commentator Jan Petter Saltvedt thought it was “a bit arrogant» not to answer other questions from the press.

The 21-year-old initially said he didn’t catch the comment, before he later got statements from both commentators presented in the same question.

– He sounds like an idiot, said Jakob Ingebrigtsen when asked by NRK, with the rest of the press, after the medal ceremony.

– Why? NRK asked.

– Not that. He could think what he wanted about it. But you have to focus on what’s important, which is the race, continued Sandnes’ son, who on Thursday won his fourth career EC gold:

Since Ingebrigtsen doesn’t specify which of Welhaven and Saltvedt this “he” is, we can assume that perhaps the two are called idiots – albeit in the name of Saltvedt’s justice being mentioned last in NRK’s ​​question.

– He might think I’m an idiot, but I have to be an idiot because I think he should talk to more people than NRK on the day he won EC gold in the 5,000 meters, that’s still one hundred percent something I stand for – like an idiot, said Saltvedt NRK.

– Like the NRK commentators, I question if this is something we expect from him. Jakob Ingebrigtsen and many people on social media may have their opinion on it and disagree with me on it. But I’m trying to raise a factual debate, and then I believe that characteristics like “idiot” don’t fall into this exchange of words, says VG’s Welhaven – and clarified that most of his comments on Wednesday were purely homage to Ingebrigtsen.

Both were clear that Ingebrigtsen was a historic athlete, and both believed that an athlete who had just won EC gold should ask the rest of the press a few questions.

They act as a mouthpiece for a population that is very interested in the sport, and who uses what Saltvedt calls a lot of “energy, resources and enthusiasm” to keep up.

Here he picks up EC gold on Tuesday, at 5000 metres:

– We are very happy to have Jakob Ingebrigtsen, but Jakob Ingebrigtsen should be happy because he has people behind him who appreciate him. It’s not that hard to keep them happy, explains Saltvedt.

Welhaven points out that there’s no question spending hours answering questions, and says it’s basically interesting to discuss whether one can expect a few words from an athlete who in this case has won gold.

– Firstly, he chooses it himself, no one can force him to do anything and he does what he wants. Second, I think both Ingebrigtsen and other athletes benefit from the fact that there are a lot more people than state-funded NRK going around and following them. Then I found it hard to see that spending a few minutes talking a little could be crucial in terms of recovery for the next race, said Welhaven – and said he thought it was “weird” that there should be such a strong reaction to a comment where most of it was spent paying tribute to an athlete.

– We have to tolerate such debates regardless of what kind of characteristics Jakob brought here, Welhaven said.

Can you run for a long time at 25 kilometers per hour? After all, VG reporters can’t!