Jakob Ingebrigtsen fought back from “the lowest of lows” to win a stunning 5,000m gold at the European Athletics Championships after almost a year out with injury.

The Norwegian great underwent Achilles surgery in January and only returned to training six weeks ago.

However, 324 days after he last took to the track, Ingebrigtsen produced an astonishing late surge to claim victory.

The 25-year-old clocked 13 minutes 15.29 seconds to win a record-equalling seventh gold at these championships, moving level with Croatian discus thrower Sandra Elkasevic.

“With 600m to go, I knew I was going to win. I was just hoping I was not going to get too tired,” Ingebrigtsen told BBC Sport.

“I doubted myself every day and every minute leading up to the last lap, but I am always hoping.

“Coming from the lowest of lows to be European champion again means the world to me. Not even I believed it could happen coming here.”

Ingebrigtsen’s last competitive race was at the World Championships in Tokyo last September.

He finished 10th in the 5,000m final, having lined up as the two-time defending champion despite his Achilles issue preventing him from competing during the outdoor season.

Announcing his return at the European Championships in Birmingham, Ingebrigtsen wrote: “If you’re waiting for the perfect preparation, perfect conditions, perfect timing, you’ll be waiting your whole life.”

He said, following discussions with his team, that there was “no reason not to race”, suggesting that while he was back to full health, he was not necessarily in shape to compete for his latest continental title.

He did not make it easy for himself. After a slow start, Ingebrigtsen began to make his way through the pack but seemed to be stuck behind France’s Jimmy Gressier on the final lap.

However, he was able to wrestle his way through before producing a superb sprint finish to keep his pristine European record intact.

Paula Radcliffe, the former women’s marathon world record holder, described it as “a textbook example of how not to run in your comeback race”.

“I can’t put into words how hard it is for Jakob to come back after that surgery he has had,” she said on BBC TV.

“You cannot write off that man.”

A two-time Olympic and world champion, Ingebrigtsen has never been beaten at the European Athletics Championships, including winning each of the past four men’s 5,000m golds

He has won gold in his past 12 European finals on the track since 2019, when he had to settle for indoor 1500m silver – his only defeat in a European track final.