Jakob Ingebrigtsen completed his third successive double at a European Athletics Indoor Championships by winning the men’s 3000m at Apeldoorn 2025 on Sunday (9), completing yet another medal mission after his 1500m triumph on Friday.
It was also his seventh title overall, having won 3000m at Glasgow 2019, alongside previous doubles in Torun 2021 and Istanbul 2023. And his overall medal tally for European senior titles now stands at 16 golds in outdoors, indoors and cross country championships. And he is still only 24.
Bold challenge from Mills
Britain’s George Mills, who won 5000m silver behind the Norwegian at last year’s Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships, was always likely to present the biggest challenge and so it proved.
The Norwegian, who has preferred to run at the back of the field for the majority of these championships, changed his approach and went to the front a mere 300 metres into the race. He was joined by Mills on his shoulder and the duo shared the burden up front.
With six laps to go, roared on by the crowd, the Netherlands’ Stefan Nillessen surged through the field to lead.
But he soon paid for his impetuosity and with three laps to go, his challenge had evaporated with the lead group reduced to Ingebrigtsen, Mills, Sweden’s Andreas Almgren and Britain’s James West.
By the last 400 metres, it became a shoot out between Ingebrigtsen and Mills. The Norwegian led at the bell and gradually pulled further away as Mills gave a backwards glance and settled in for silver. Ingebrigtsen strode purposefully to the line and yet more glory, finishing in 7:48.37, having covered the last 1000m in 2:19.07.
Mills took silver in 7:49.41 and 1500 silver medallist Azeddine Habz of France made a late dash for bronze, clocking 7:50.48.
For Almgren it was another near miss in fourth (7:50:66), the same position he achieved in the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships (10,000m), Munich 2022 European Athletics Championships (5000m) and Prague 2015 European Athletics Indoor Championships (800m).
“Every race is different,” said Ingebrigtsen afterwards. “It was a good race, in which I felt strong. There were a lot of good runners; it is fun to see all the best runners of Europe coming together. After winter, you cannot know exactly who is in shape and who is healthy.
“Competitions and championships are what it is all about. I have always been training towards something and setting goals, with the championship in mind. That is what sport is about. Racing, representing our nation and celebrating the sport.”
Healy thrills Ireland with 3000m gold
There was an equally thrilling, yet less predictable, women’s 3000m final. Germany’s Lea Meyer made the early running, but with five laps to go, Roma 2024 5000m bronze medallist Marta Garcia of Spain took the lead.
With two laps to go, Garcia led from twice bronze medallist Melissa Courtney-Bryant with her British teammates Hannah Nuttall and Innes Fitzgerald, Ireland’s Sara Healy, 1500m silver medallist Salomé Afonso of Portugal all in contention.
As the pace wound up on the final lap, the field became stretched, with Courtney-Bryant edging her way past Garcia with 100 metres to go. But Healy had not given up the chase and gradually reeled in the British athlete in the final metres to grab a breakthrough gold in 8:52.86 and thwart Courtney-Bryant’s golden ambitions, winning by 0.06.
Alfonso’s finishing speed earned her a second medal at these championships, winning in bronze in 8:53.42, just 0.25 ahead of the brave Garcia.
Afterwards, Healy said: “It was amazing. My parents were here. I looked at them and at the Irish crowd several times during the race. I think I probably just enjoyed myself more at these championships. I realised if I want to perform, it doesn’t have to be so serious.”
Wielgosz fulfills long held ambition in 800m
Anna Wielgosz, 31, claimed the first title of her long international career, running a perfectly judged race to win gold in the women’s 800m final. In a very closely matched field, tactical acumen was always likely to be the deciding factor and the Pole got it just right.
Swiss duo Audrey Werro and Rachel Pellaud made the early running on the first lap.
But after 300 metres Wielgosz moved out of trouble to the front. With two laps to go, 2023 silver medallist Anita Horvat also moved past the Swiss and alongside Wielgosz.
With the bell in sight on the home straight, the pace quickened, and France’s Clara Liberman made a big move.
But Wielgosz preserved her position up front as the pack fought for position in her wake. As they entered the final turn, Werro and Horvat clashed and the Swiss athlete, the two-time European U20 champion tumbled to the boards.
But Wielgosz’ experience was coming to the fore and she had a comfortable pathway to gold, winning in 2:02.09. Liberman took silver in 2:02.32 with Horvat taking bronze in 2:02.32, just 0.07 ahead of fast finishing Eloisa Coiro of Italy.
“Today it was my day, and I am glad it was just a perfect timing,” said the victorious Pole. “I have been waiting for this day for a very long time – since 2010 when I was just a young girl dreaming about a big medal, until today, when I am an adult women who just had this trust and fulfilled her dreams.”
Chris Broadbent for European Athletics