Russia's Elena Isinbaeva poses for photos with her new
world record after the women's pole vault final at the National Stadium, also
known as the Bird's Nest, during Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China
yesterday. Isinbaeva claimed the title in the event and set a new world record.-
Xinhua
Pole vault tsarina Elena Isinbaeva yesterday evening cleared the new world
record of 5.05 meters, winning her second Olympic gold medal almost with no
efforts.
With only two successful jumps, the defending Olympic gold medalist and world
champion secured the gold. On the fifth attempt, she broke the Olympic record
which was created by herself four years ago in Athens. The 26-year-old pole
vaulter eventually overcame her 24th world record of 5.05 meters.
Isinbaeva said, "I was trying to do my best for the crowd. It makes me happy,
so happy. I felt that I could not go out without the world record because of the
support the crowd gave me. I remember my feelings from Athens and I wanted to
feel that again."
Although she said everyone's confidence of her victory put a lot of pressure
on her, the Russian jumper believed she would soon clear 5.10 meters.
"The sky is my only limit," she said. "Life would be boring without records
to break so I want to continue on forever."
Isinbaeva murmured before each attempt, she decoded the murmuring, "Do it, do
it, just do it. Just be confident, I'm OK."
"I'm just trying to find some motivation from inside," she said.
Isinbaeva's closest follower, Jennifer Stuczynski of the United States, who
jumped over 4.80 meters, got the silver medal. The American's personal best in
2008 was 4.92 meters.
Another Russian Svetlana Feofanova, has long vaulted in Isinbaeva's shadow,
finished third with 4.75 meters.
Stuczynski said, "To come to your first Olympics and get a medal, a silver
nonetheless, is great. I'm comfortable with the silver medal. However, I jumped
so many times and didn't take some time to have a rest. This is why I got tired
and failed to achieve a better result."
Feofanova said, "I can really jump 4.80 (meters), but I had some problems and
didn't manage it. I was stronger in Athens, physically. Here, I was lost
mentally because my results were not as good."
Since taking home the Athens Olympic gold in 2004, Isinbaeva has dominated
the pole vault jump, including two world record-breaking jumps in 2008 with 5.03
meters in Rome and then 5.04 meters in Monaco.
During her complete reigning in the field, she also added the gold medals
from the 2005 and 2007 world championships and the 2006 European championships.