JOSH KERR was as cool as can be as he stormed through to the Olympic 1500m semi-final and brushed off rival Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s latest jibe.

The 26-year-old finished fastest from the first of three heats in 3:35.83 to book his place in Sunday evening’s semis on an afternoon that also saw all three of Britain’s women, including European champion Dina Asher-Smith, qualify from their 100m heats on the first day of track and field action at Stade de France.

Kerr, who beat the Norwegian to the world title in 2023, was aware of — but utterly unfazed by — comments made by Ingebrigtsen, the reigning Olympic champion, who speaking to his country’s media on Thursday said of the Scotsman: “It is difficult to refer to him as a rival when he is never there. He is known as the Brit who never competes.”