As the 1500m final of the 2024 Paris Olympics soon approaches us, all eyes are set to be on the Tokyo gold medalist Jake Ingebrigtsen and the current world champion Josh Kerr. The duo, who have shown public disdain towards each other on numerous occasions, will now finally compete for victory in Paris. Kerr has said that the upcoming race will be the most vicious 1500m race we’ve seen in recent times. He added that exchanging words with Ingebrigtsen has fueled his desire to perform on the field even more. This is no longer just about the medal; it’s about pride. Many speculate about the exact occasion when this rivalry was born.

Most agree that it was after Kerr defeated Ingebrigtsen in the World Championships last year in Budapest. However, there might be even deeper roots to it. During the 2022 World Championship in Eugene, the Norwegian was the favorite to take the gold medal home, repeating the outcome of Tokyo. Instead, he was beaten by Jake Wightman and settled for the silver. Ingebrigtsen was dissatisfied and poked Wightman in the interview after the race, claiming that he’s a lesser athlete than him. While Wightman didn’t think much of it, Kerr, who is his childhood friend, wasn’t amused at all. It fueled Kerr’s determination to defeat Ingebrigtsen in Budapest, effectively taking revenge.

But the Norwegian wasn’t ready to accept that defeat either, claiming he was sick. He added that when fit, he beats Kerr blindfolded. Now, both athletes meet in Paris to settle it all. It wouldn’t be an easy task for Ingebrigtsen to defeat Kerr, as he’s one of the best 1500m runners in the world right now. His talent was evident since his childhood and has improved significantly since. Here is more about Kerr’s childhood.

Where is Josh Kerr from?

Josh Kerr was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on 8th October 1997. He is currently 26 years old. His father is a retired rugby player, and his mother is a physiotherapist. His brother, Jake, followed in their father’s footsteps to become a rugby player himself. His parents hold a very special place in his heart, and he never forgets to acknowledge them. He dedicated his medal at the World Championships last year to his parents.

Kerr has been fond of running ever since he was a child. At the age of eight, his parents enrolled him at the Edinburgh Athletics Club where he honed his skills. When he was 18, he decided that going to the United States for his college career would be a great decision and would help him develop as an athlete.

Where did Josh Kerr go to college?

The University of New Mexico finally gave him a scholarship after he faced rejection from numerous other universities. Thus, he started his major in exercise science there and moved to Albuquerque. Before moving there, he won the 2015 Junior Championships in Europe. He had an extremely successful career in New Mexico, breaking numerous records. The Scottish athlete won the NCAA title three times. He also held the collegiate record in the 1500m with a time of 3:35.01 for three years. In 2017, he became the first man since Leo Manzano in 2008 to win both indoor and outdoor titles in the same year.

Finally, in 2018, he decided to turn professional and hasn’t looked back since. If he wins the gold medal in Paris, he will not only win his personal battle with Ingebrigtsen but also prove the coaches who rejected him during his college applications wrong. He is very capable of doing so.