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http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2 ... 4/093.html

Isinbayeva Follows Bubka's Example
Combined Reports

ATHENS -- Centimeter by centimeter, Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva edges toward both the coveted 5-meter barrier and the consequent financial security.

Isinbayeva has improved the world record by a centimeter six times this year, scaling 4.90 meters in London last month. Each time she has picked up a handsome bonus check.

At a news conference last Thursday, Isinbayeva was disarmingly honest about her motives.

"It's the big money," she said in her halting but rapidly improving English. "I'm not a rich girl."

The parallel with Sergei Bubka is obvious. Bubka, who won the first of his six world titles in 1983, also picked up bonus money every time he raised the record to its present 6.15 meters.

These days Bubka is a member of the International Olympic Committee, a sophisticated sports politician who has come a long way since he won his first world title as a callow teenager from Ukraine in 1983. He is also comfortably off as a result of his spectacular craft.

Isinbayeva is the favorite to win the Athens Olympics gold medal Tuesday in the women's event, which has provided thrills, spills and glamour in abundance since it was introduced at the 1999 Seville world championships.

Isinbayeva's odds for picking up her first gold received a major boost Saturday when Olympic champion Stacy Dragila failed to qualify for the final.

The American passed 4.30 meters at the second attempt but then failed to clear 4.40. Isinbayeva came into the competition at 4.40 and eased over at the first attempt, as did her Russian teammate Svetlana Feofanova, the world champion.

With Dragila out of the running, Feofanova is now Isinbayeva's main rival for gold.

In the past few years Isinbayeva has only needed to set a record for Feofanova to come back to break it -- with Isinbayeva then reclaiming it a short time later.

The two are not thought to be the greatest friends. They have different personalities, with Feofanova seemingly ill-at-ease in the public spotlight.

Isinbayeva, on the other hand, is happy to share her plans with the world -- and the financial motivations that help shape them.

Her plan is to first win the gold medal in the Olympic final Tuesday, and then extend the world by a further centimeter, doubling her $60,000 bonus money from the Russian Federation.

"I will fight for gold, then I will try and break the world record," she said. "My competition is myself and the bar."

Isinbayeva equates the women's 5-meter pole vault to the men's 6-meter barrier, first cleared by Bubka.

"I think 5 meters and higher is possible," she said.

"It's like the men's jump and the men jump 6 meters. I want to do it step by step like Bubka."

(Reuters, AP)

http://sport.guardian.co.uk/olympics200 ... 51,00.html

Crock of gold unlocked as Russian rivals break open the vault

Richard Williams
Thursday August 26, 2004
The Guardian

Yesterday was 10 minutes old when Yelena Isinbayeva poured liquid on to her palms, rubbed the grip of her vaulting pole and murmured her private litany for the last time. On this occasion, however, a broad smile had replaced the usual stare of ferocious concentration as she wiggled her bottom in that way she does before setting off down the runway. A few seconds later the stadium erupted to acclaim a new world record.

It was a wonderful climax to an enthralling contest and around 25,000 people had remained in the Olympic stadium to watch it. A first-time inclusion four years ago in Sydney, the women's pole vault has become not just one of the glamour events but also one of the most rivetingly competitive.

On Tuesday night the stadium had been full of marvellous examples of sporting fellowship. Best of all, perhaps, was the sight of the decathletes lying exhausted on the track after their 1500m races, then rising wearily to their feet to embrace each other with an unfeigned warmth, winners and losers indistinguishable from each other amid the collective goodwill generated by two dozen big men who had fought each other to a standstill. Then there was the beauty of the gesture extended by Bernard Lagat to Hicham El Guerrouj, the defeated Kenyan bending down to put his arm around the shoulder of the victorious Moroccan, who was kneeling on the track in disbelief and gratitude that finally, after so much misfortune, he had acquired the gold medal his glittering talent demanded.

In the pole vault area, by contrast, fellowship was at a premium. Here was a high-stakes, high-risk, gloves-off, take-no-prisoners battle contested by a bunch of women who, as they lolled around waiting to take their turn, just happened to look like an audition for a Vogue cover shoot.

The cast of Sydney's dramatic final has been replaced. Stacy Dragila, the winner four years ago, failed to qualify for the final. Tatiana Grigorieva, Australia's Russian ice queen, took her silver medal into retirement. But no one was missing them in Athens on Tuesday night as Anna Rogowska and Monika Pyrek of Poland, Thorey Edda Elisdottir of Iceland, Alejandra Garcia of Argentina, Silke Spiegelburg of Germany and the rest lined up to provide support to the featured attraction.

This was, of course, the ongoing Russian civil war between Isinbayeva, a dark-haired, grey-eyed native of Volgograd, and Svetlana Feofanova, a freckled, sandy-haired Muscovite. And it is a contest that goes a lot deeper than the quest for a single Olympic gold medal.

Isinbayeva is 22 and comes from a comfortable background. Feofanova, two years older, is the child of a single mother who worked at three jobs to keep the family fed. Both started as gymnasts and there was no love lost when they somersaulted on the balance beam and swung on the uneven bars. When they switched to the pole vault, their rivalry took on a new edge. "Hi-and-goodbye" is how Isinbayeva describes their relationship.

At the beginning of this Olympic cycle Feofanova was the first to establish herself. With victories in the world outdoor and indoor championships last year she appeared to have manoeuvred herself into position for a gold medal in Athens. Isinbayeva had stalked her rival for a couple of seasons when she soared above her for the first time this year, setting a new world indoor record in Budapest and establishing a new outdoor mark of 4.87m in Gateshead.

Feofanova reasserted her presence with a 4.88 in Heraklion, only to find Isinbayeva capturing a thrilling battle at Crystal Palace in July by lifting the record to 4.90. And there it stood until the first minutes of yesterday morning.

The two Russians have clearly learnt a lesson from Sergey Bubka, the 1988 Olympic champion in the men's event. Having always resented the way the Soviet authorities pocketed his prize money, Bubka made sure, when it became possible for him to keep the bonuses on offer for setting a new world record, that he did so in increments of no more than one centimetre, in order to maximise his earnings.

Currently the tariff for the women's pole vault record at grand prix meetings stands at $50,000, although a record set at an Olympics brings only a bonus from the athlete's shoe sponsor - which will probably at least match the missing official bonus. So when, having beaten Feofanova for the gold medal, Isinbayeva went for the record, it could be imagined that something more than extra entertainment for the crowd was in her mind.

But who cared about the motives behind Isinbayeva's final flourish? What we got, as the night air bore the first cooling breeze of the week, was the sight of a woman pole-vaulting 4.91m for the first time in competition.

One day Isinbayeva or Feofanova will clear 5m, the height at which Bubka said, long ago, that he would start to take women pole vaulters seriously. Isinbayeva says she has already done it in training, so it may not be too far away. Just do not expect to see it happen all at once

http://www.bangladesh-web.com/view.php? ... 0000019410

Athens 2004-'Chick with the Stick'

Thursday August 26 2004 09:12:26 AM BDT


When Yelena Isinbayeva plan-ted the pole and vaulted over a bar set at a shade under five me-tres in the Olym-pic final it was the seventh time she had pushed up the limits of the event this year.

The 22-year-old Russian dominated the Olympic competition in only the second time it has been contested, defeating arch-rival Svetlana Feofanova on Tuesday before pursuing her personal battle with the record books.


Women were banned from pole vaulting until the mid-1990s but since its introduction the event has seen an unending pattern of progress.


With many of women's track and field world records deep frozen in the Cold War era -- the 400 metres mark of East Germany's Marita Koch for example has stood for 19 years -- Isinbayeva and Feofanova consistently serve up the record-chasing excitement that spectators want to see.


Try telling the enthralled crowd in the Olympic Stadium on Tuesday that Isinbayeva's 4.91 metre world record clearance should be seen in the context of a recently introduced event.


No money is paid for world records at the Olympics, but Isinbayeva earned a 50,000 dollar bonus for raising the bar to a then world record 4.86m in the World Indoor Championships in Budapest in March.


And the promoters of international meetings are responsible for rewarding her for subsequent records in Gateshead, Birmingham and Crystal Palace. Add in bonuses from her shoe company and Isinbayeva is set to become a wealthy young woman.


"A yacht is what I will buy," she said after winning the Olympic gold medal. "Or a great car. I haven't got a great car yet. But I am still waiting for my bonus so we will have to wait and see."

This ebullient and most modern of Russians cuts a fascinating contrast with Feofanova, a quieter and sometimes dour character. It is rumoured the two are not the best of friends.


Feofanova has done her share of record-setting too, posting world records five times in 2002, three times in 2003 and twice this year.


Between them, Isinbayeva and Feofanova have raised the bar by 20 centimetres in the space of two and a half years. Now both are engaged in the chase to be the first woman to clear five metres. Isinbayeva claims she has already done it in training.


"I think women can jump as high as men... but perhaps one metre lower," said the woman from Volgograd. The men's pole vault record, set by the king of the event, Sergei Bubka, is 6.14m.


Isinabyeva took her first steps in sport as an artistic gymnast at the age of five but she failed to achieve success and a sudden growth spurt when she was 15 dashed her hopes of being a serious gymnast.


Bubka, a Ukrainian, indirectly had a key role in her decision to switch from gymnastics to pole vaulting.


"My coach predicted I could have a career like Bubka in the pole vault. But at that time I didn't know who Bubka was.


"This year Bubka told me he thought I was great after my victory in Donetsk. After that I understood that I was really worth something."

Isinbayeva is set to rule the event for years, although Stacy Dragila, the American who won the event in its Olympic debut in Sydney, will re-double her efforts to clear the magical five-metre mark after failing to make the final in Athens.

http://www.iaaf.org/GLE04/news/Kind=2/newsId=27281.html

Isinbayeva intends to remain on a high in Brussels
Thursday 2 September 2004

Brussels, Belgium – While the rest of the world’s best athletes seem to be tired after their Olympic exploits in Athens, Russia’s Yelena Isinbayeva remains as bright and bubbly as usual.

The 22 year-old Russian Olympic champion was so keen to meet the media this afternoon at a press conference held ahead of tomorrow’s Memorial Van Damme, TDK Golden League meeting, that she was already eagerly sitting awaiting questions in the meeting hotel, while Meeting Director Wilfried Meert was worriedly knocking on her hotel room door convinced she had fallen asleep!

Yelena Isinbayeva clears a World record 4.91 to win Olympic gold
(Getty Images)

The World record holder is not the sort of person to let the small matter of fatigue spoil her enthusiasm for the sport!

“To be an Olympic gold medallist was my dream, and to beat the World record as well makes me so happy,â€Â

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?fi ... sec=sports

Isinbayeva looks more like Bubka with every record she sets


BRUSSELS: When her coach asked her years ago, “Do your know Bubka?â€Â

http://www.rediff.com/sports/2004/sep/16yelena.htm

Interview - Yelena Isinbayeva

Gennady Fyodorov in Moscow | September 16, 2004 14:32 IST


Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva thinks she could raise the world record to five metres at next year's world athletics championships.

"You could say it's a good bet I'll break that record some time next year," the Russian told Reuters.

"I've added 10 cm in just over 12 months, so I think it's a good bet I might do it, maybe next August in Helsinki," said the bubbly 22-year-old, referring to the 2005 world championships and her extraordinary ability to set records in big meetings.

"I don't want to sound overconfident, but I don't think this five-metre barrier is something out of reach since I went over five metres in training a couple of times already and I think it's just a matter of time before I do it in competition."

Isinbayeva has dominated the women's pole vault for the last 12 months after setting her first world record of 4.82 in Gateshead, England, last July.

She has since chalked up seven more indoor and outdoor records, each time raising the bar by a centimetre as she followed the example of great Ukrainian pole vaulter Sergei Bubka.

She set her latest mark of 4.92 at this month's Golden League meeting in Brussels, a week after winning the Olympic gold medal in Athens with yet another world-record performance.

Isinbayeva also set a world record while winning this year's world indoor title in Budapest.

"I've had a phenomenal year but it has been a long one as well and I'm a bit tired now, but I've got one more competition remaining, then I can rest," said Isinbayeva, who will finish her season at the IAAF final in Monaco this weekend.

$50,000 BONUS

Isinbayeva, who gets $50,000 for each new mark, admitted that money played a role but said it was not her only motive.

"Money is always nice and the more the better, but it's not the reason why I compete and try to break records," she said.

"Yes, I think I could have raised the bar higher and tried to clear five metres this summer but I chose to do it step by step. This way you have some suspense and it's more exciting for the audience, I think," she added.

Isinbayeva, dubbed "Bubka in a skirt" by the Russian media, says she could easily add another 20 to 25 cm to her existing mark.

"Yes, I think I'm capable of going 5.15-5.20 or even higher," she said. "My coach Yevgeny Trofimov keeps telling me that I have so many areas where I can improve. Besides, I need lofty goals to keep myself motivated."

Trofimov said: "Despite all her world records Yelena is still developing as an athlete. She is young and still needs to mature to become a complete performer.

"She has only scratched the surface of her true potential and will only get better with time. Technique, conditioning, raw speed -- there's plenty of room for improvement in every area."

EXPLOSIVE MIX

The coach also pointed to Isinbayeva's ancestry as a key to his pupil's ability.

"People say upbringing has great influence on a person's behaviour. Well, that might be true but I think genetics also plays a huge role," he said.

"In Yelena's case, her father is from the Caucasus region of Dagestan. He is very quiet and her mother is descended from Russian Cossacks, who settled centuries ago on the Don River.

"Most of them have a very quick temper and are also known for their fighting spirit. So Yelena has what you might call a special combination in terms of genes. It's a very explosive mix but a good one for sports," he added.

Isinbayeva also credits her parents for her feisty character.

"Since childhood I've learnt that you don't get anything in life without hard work and dedication," she said. "These are not hollow words for me, I know what it takes to be successful."

Isinbayeva, who has said on several occasions that her only rival is herself, has mellowed a bit since winning the Olympic gold and sees compatriot Svetlana Feofanova as a worthy opponent.

Feofanova had two brief spells as world-record holder earlier this year and the two Russians have a frosty relationship at best.

"She won a silver medal in Athens and proved that she is capable of vaulting high on a regular basis," Isinbayeva said.

"She is also a tough competitor and I admire her for that."

The Volgograd native, who has moved to a new three-room apartment given to her for winning the Olympic gold, says she could use extra cash for her wardrobe or a new car.

"I'm a young girl, I like nice cars and fancy clothes. There are so many things in life that you could spend your money on. But I'm not going overboard. Private jets and luxury yachts can wait," she added with a smile.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040917/a ... 769088.asp

Isinbayeva aims for 5m mark

Isinbayeva feels she can add another 20 to 25 cm to her existing mark
Moscow: Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva thinks she could raise the world record to five metres at next year’s world athletics championships.

“You could say it’s a good bet I’ll break that record some time next year,â€Â

Isinbayeva, who gets $50,000 for each new mark, admitted that money played a role but said it was not her only motive.

WHO says there is no money in Pole vaulting???
\
She makes more money than pole manufactuers do in profits on poles LOl

http://www.iaaf.org/WAF04/news/Kind=2/newsId=27423.html

IAAF Press Conference Quotes
Friday 17 September 2004

The traditional IAAF press Conference hosted by President Lamine Diack on the eve of the second World Athletics Final took place at the Monte Carlo Grand Hotel in Monaco, this afternoon.

In addition to President Diack and Local representatives SEM Bernard Fautrier – Vice President of the Monegasque Athletic Federation – and Jean Pierre Schoebel - meeting director - the press conference was attended by two-time Olympic gold medalist Kelly Holmes of Great Britain, Golden League Jackpot winner Tonique Williams-Darling of Bahamas, Olympic champion and World record holder Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia on the women’s side and Olympic bronze medallist Naman Keita of France, World Number one ranked Asafa Powell of Jamaica and four-time World champion Allen Johnson of the USA on the men’s side.

Yelena Isinbayeva
Competing in the World Athletics Final Pole Vault on Sunday
Ranked number 1 in the Pole Vault and in the Overall standings

Yelena Isinbayeva at the World Athletics Final press conference
(Getty Images)

Asked about her dancing performance following her World record in Brussels
“No I won’t go into pop music! I like the Pole Vault, I like to jump and I like to fly. I enjoy when I please the crowd and I see people happy. In Brussels I just liked the music they were playing and so I danced and sang along.

“I am a normal person so I do have some bad moments too but I always try to be happy and positive because this attitude has helped me a lot both in the Pole Vault and in my personal life.â€Â

http://inhome.rediff.com/sports/2004/dec/14spec.htm

Isinbayeva vaults and entertains

December 14, 2004

The Black Sea Cossacks choir backed by a full orchestra lent an exotic twist to the Brussels Golden League meeting in the week after the Athens Olympics.

To the delight of a noisy crowd who had enjoyed some splendid athletics, including two world records, the choir were joined on stage by Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, who belted out an enthusiastic version of her national anthem.

Yelena IsinbayevaIsinbayeva had set her seventh world record of the year while winning the gold medal in Athens. In Brussels she extended her mark another centimetre to 4.92 metres and picked up another $100,000 bonus.

"I'm just a poor girl from Volgograd," she disarmingly explained to reporters before the start of the Olympic Games.

The women's pole vault is still a fledgling event and Isinbayeva confessed at the season-ending world athletics final that she had already exceeded five metres in training.

After making a fortune in world record bonuses, some of which went towards buying a new car, Isinbayeva was considerably richer at year's end and indisputably the women's athlete of the year.

Her unexpected concert appearance in Brussels reflected her vivacious personality, already clearly apparent when performing in the most theatrically spectacular event on the athletics programme.

Sorry Becca for being such a jerk.

Quick!! Someone call Russ!!!!!