Isinbayeva: "I don't jump for money"

[rainbowgirl28]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/arti ... 174965.cms

'I don't jump for money'
STANISLAUS DSOUZA

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2005 01:17:52 AM ]

MADRID: "Fancy cars and clothes are not the reasons for chasing world records," said Yelena Isinbeyava soon after breaking the world pole vault record at the Estadio Valhermoso, in Madrid, venue for the Super Grand Prix Athletics on Sunday.

Yelena's defence came after journalists accused the Russian of improving the world record at a snail's pace even though she is said to be capable of clearing the 5 metre barrier effortlessly. Yelena had been charged by the media of aiming for the $50,000 bonus each time she shatters the world record. She has done it 15 times in two years after starting off at just 4 metres.

"Money is good and the more you have the better it is. But that's not the reason why I try to break records," she told Indian journalists.

When asked what she mumbled before attempting the record, she said: "I really don't know what I was saying. It doesn't really occur to me that I am mumbling. I say some things to get myself psyched up. And with the encouragement from the crowd and music egging me on, it works."

The Russian from Volgograd took to the sport at 14 in 1998. She improved by leaps and bounds in the next years to propel herself to the pinnacle in the discipline made famous by fellow Russian Sergei Bubka. Watching Isinbayeva from the stands was Olympic high jump gold medallist and former world record holder, Javier Sotomayor. The Cuban, who willingly obliged a group of Indian journalists for a photo shoot, was extremely impressed by her.

Her coach Yevgeny Trofimov believes she has it in her to achieve lofty heights. If Yelena and her coach are to be believed, then Crystal Palace on July 22, is the place where she is likely to clear the historic barrier. That could be the platform she will spring forth from to buy herself a personal jet and fast cars that she loves so much.