Gjart had no background in athletics, but the former logistics manager became a loudly high -kilhed program to turn his seven children into a family band of medium distance elite contenders.
The Public Council of Gjart to Jakob after that 1500 m gold in Berlin was to celebrate with a glass of warm milk and the head directly to the bed.
However, according to Jakob, the guide was not always so healthy.
In March of this year, the Olympic champion stopped in a court in his native Norway and said he had submitted to a decade of physical and mental abuse by his father.
The stories were gloomy.
Jakob said that Gjart had threatened to get him out of a car and hit him until death an argument.
Jakob said that he would routinely be hit around the head, sometimes until he vomited. Hi, he said he was beaten when he was late for a race. And again when he received a bad school report.
In another incident, he said he was kicked in his stomach after he fell from a thrust scooter like a nine -year -old boy.
Gjart denied everything.
Hello, he admitted that he was a strict father. “Traditional” and “patriarchal” were his own descriptions of his style.
Gjart was only four years old when he lost his own father, and said he lacked models to follow when he became a father of about 20 years.
He said Wills got angry, often too protective, but never abusive.
The dispute was shocking. But maybe not surprising.
In 2019, Gjart and Jakob spoke with BBC Sport about their relationship.
“The boys come to me and say ‘I want to be a European champion,” Gjart explained.
“I say” I want to help you, I can help you, but you have to do everything I tell you. “
“I treat other parents. I am very demanding and it is a son of contract to me and the children help them to be the best they can be, but they have to endure to follow them every day throughout the year.”
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