Yuri Yuris wrote:Yelena Isinbaeva: the first start, and right away – a world record!On Saturday at the "Pole Vault Stars" tournament in Donetsk, the famous vaulter from Russia overcame 4.95 meters on her third attempt. Thus, she bettered last year’s achievement, established right here, by 2 centimeters.
Donetsk, definitely a happy city for Isinbaeva, two years ago officially proclaimed her an honorary citizen. Not once has the sportswoman yet left there without a world record since 2004, when the women first appeared together with the men in the "Pole Vault Stars" program. As a matter of fact, Isinbaeva and her appearance, which the organizers make no secret of, and the world record holder’s jump-flights, are the program’s main attraction.
This time the subject of the prima vaulter’s battle with the height (as usual, only with the height, and not her rivals) was intriguing, even with elements of drama, having hardly begun in the sector. After taking off “for a warm-up” at 4.67, Isinbaeva added 10 more centimeters, and again took the height on her first attempt – and became winner of the tournament. Everyone in the "friendship" sport palace hall (including Sergey Bubka, whose commentary you can read below), were sure that the world record would be Yelena’s next target. However, the sportswoman herself decided otherwise, ordered 4.87 – and... nearly buried the hopes for a record jump. This height only submitted to Isinbaeva on her third attempt...
– Maybe such a risk was unwise, instead of immediately going for the record? – asked your "SE" correspondent Yuri YURIS, of the world record holder.- I don’t consider it so. The first two heights certainly hadn’t convinced me that I was ready yet to threaten the record. I reckoned that some more serious testing was necessary. In the first start of season you always go a little bit by feel. For example, I needed to change poles four times, searching for the one with optimum stiffness for today.
- Did the delay in competition also influence you? (The women’s tournament, barely after starting, was interrupted for almost an hour – the time needed to repair a broken box for the support. - Y.Y.)- Absolutely. By duration, it was the longest tournament in my life. Certainly, I was disposed for the record, but speaking honestly, at some points I doubted that it was possible.
- What stirred you to overcome these doubts?- Let’s just say that the promise I made the day before, played a decisive role. When I was asked at the press conference whether it was worth expecting a world record, my words flew off too categorically: “it’s worth it.” With these I backed myself into a corner. (laughing) If I hadn’t jumped it, I’d be full of hot air... Thank God everything came out.
- After two unsuccessful jumps at 4.94 for the record, you passed the last attempt to 4.95. Did last year’s experience prove useful, when right here at the "Pole Vault Stars", you already made this feint?- It’s too widely practiced among vaulters to call it a “feint”. On one hand, raising the bar is a psychological step, which yields the necessary emotions: you know that one attempt remains; but the new height involuntarily produces a feeling like everything is just beginning... It re-tunes your internal state. Furthermore, after you’re alone in the sector, you receive an particularly practical benefit from raising the bar – several extra minutes of rest while the judges re-measure the height and re-position the bar...
- During the competition there was a moment when Yuliya Golubchikova, who arrived in Donetsk as the world leader this season, was five centimeters ahead of you. Don’t you feel that your rivals are getting closer?- No. I’ll probably only feel that way when they learn to jump 15 - 20 centimeters higher.
- Like two years ago, you again prepared for the season in Donetsk. What did you do the last month-and-a-half?- High pole vaulting is technically complex; it must be gradually put together, like a puzzle. That’s what we’ve been doing.
- And how has it gone together?- Thus far we’re not done. Vitaly Afanasevich (Petrov, Isinbaeva’s trainer. - Y.Y.) figures that another two weeks are needed to attain the necessary rhythm and form of jumps.
- Nevertheless, you got the world record...- I’m surprised myself! I approached the third attempt at 4.95 entirely without strength. I jumped only on emotion, because of the music playing over the competition, and the support in the hall. How I climbed over the bar – I don’t remember. Everything was as if in a fog.
- What’s next?- The next start is February 20th in Bydgoszcz Poland. Then the gathering in Paris, where possibly I’ll also come out. And Valencia, the indoor world championships on 7 - 8 March. That will conclude the winter season for me.
- Does your preparation plan for the Olympiad in Beijing already exist?- I understand it. My coach and I plan to begin the summer season on 13 July at the tournament in Rome. In all there will be five preliminary starts, including qualifications in the Olympic tournament. Immediately before the trip to Beijing we’ll carry out an 11-day gathering in Japan.
Commentary of
Sergey BUBKA:- I reckon that Lena committed a tactical blunder on Saturday, and nearly cost her, and all of us, a world record. After good jumps at 4.67 and 4.77 she needed to immediately go after the world record. The normal tactics for a sportswoman of this level, who has no real rivals in the sector: the first height – a warm-up, the second – victory, the third – the record. I myself always adhered to precisely this approach, without wasting energy on excess jumps. Lena, for some reason, ordered up 4.87, which brought her nothing but superfluous agitation and useless expenditure of strength.
This is one side of the coin. But there’s another. Only Isinbaeva was capable of getting herself out of the situation in which she appeared with that last jump at 4.95. Once again she proved that she can do anything she wants in the sector; that the result depends on her mastery. And on her desire to complete, which from the outside sometimes seems impossible.
Donetsk. 16 February. Light Athletics "Zepter Pole Vault Stars" tournament. Women. 1. ISINBAEVA – 4.95 (world record). 2. GOLUBCHIKOVA (both - Russia) – 4.72. 3. Pyrek (Poland) – 4.67. Men. 1. Mazuryk (Ukraine) – 5.81. 2. PAVLOV – 5.81. 3. LUKYANENKO (both - Russia) – 5.81.