PARIS - Should world champion Josh Kerr make it to the final of the men’s 1500m at the Paris Olympics, he will likely line up against Jakob Ingebrigtsen in what is shaping to be one of the tastiest track rivalries of the Summer Games.
Kerr and Ingebrigtsen have traded barbs since the Scot swept past the Norwegian to snatch world gold in Budapest last year.
It was a remarkable repeat of team-mate Jake Wightman's victory over Ingebrigtsen at the 2022 Eugene Worlds, where Kerr claimed bronze.
Kerr has gone on to claim the world indoor 3000m title in March in Glasgow, shortly after setting a new indoor 2 mile world record.
"I’m the mailman, I guess!" Kerr said of his ability to deliver.
Ingebrigtsen, however, claimed that he could have beaten Kerr in the 2-mile race "blindfolded".
"But it's good that people run better than they have done before," said Ingebrigtsen, who wrapped up a third 1500/5,000m golden double at the European championships in Rome.
Kerr for his part has said he thinks that Ingebrigtsen has some "major weakness" and flaws in the "manners realm", all the while praising his rival as "very dedicated and amazing at our sport".
"He also wants to be the best in the world and so do I, and that's going to make us clash 10 times out of 10. I'll always have respect for his performances."
Jonathan Edwards, the reigning world record triple jump holder, told AFP that fans craved the kind of competition that could throw up the odd prickly exchange.
"That thing between Josh Kerr and Ingebrigtsen is great, it's really good. You need those rivalries," Edwards said.
"The essence of athletics is faster, further, higher. There is something in the pursuit of excellence for excellence’s sake and that records should still be held up as the gold standard because I think that's the essence for track and field.
"But rivalries are important and I think they are the root of track and field."