– First of all, I think he should be Swedish, says Anders Gärderud, Olympic champion in the 3,000 meter steeplechase from the 1976 Montreal Games, laughing.

At the Diamond League meet in Monaco on Friday, Jakob Ingebrigtsen finished fourth in the 1500 metres, and set a new personal record with a time of 3.31.18. This is also a European junior record.

Gärderud is now an athletics expert for SVT. He described Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s results in Monaco as unrivaled.

– I am very impressed. “We were almost speechless in place of the Swedish commentator,” said Gärderud about the race.

I think Jakob will fight for a 2019 WC medal

– 3.31 as a 17-year-old is much faster than when I ran, says BBC expert Steve Cram.

He himself was one of the world’s best middle distance runners in the 80s. During his time, Cram won WC and EC gold in the 1500 meters. During the Olympics in Los Angeles in 1984, he won a silver medal.

Older brother Henrik Ingebrigtsen previously said that the Steve Cram years had been an important motivating factor for him.

Now BBC experts believe Jakob Ingebrigtsen has at least an equally impressive track record.

– Jakob has had a fantastic season. From what I hear, he has a lot more in him. Norway has a WC contender next year, and during the Olympics in Tokyo in two years.

You’re the first under 3.30, do you think Jakob will make it?

– He had a 3.31 as a 17 year old, so of course it would work.

– Has a future as a world record holder

Swedish Gärderud believes that Jakob’s potential seems to have no limits.

– He has every chance to become the best in the world over long distances. In Jakob, I see a future as a world record holder.

The current world record is 3.26.00, and was set by Hicham El Guerrouj exactly 20 years ago. Steve Cram, on the other hand, said that Jakob shouldn’t focus too much on time.

– Our sport is about winning medals in championships. He should focus on tactics around 1500 meters, where you can run slower, but tactically. He always ran very fast.

Gärderud also said that we should not forget that Jakob Ingebrigtsen is only 17 years old.

– This is a difficult situation. He is considered an adult because he achieved adult sports results, but he is still a schoolboy. I think he should be treated like a teenager. He had to hurry slowly.