Articles from Worlds WPV Final

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,865 ... 10,00.html

Isinbayeva still poles apart
From Talek Harris in Osaka, Japan
August 29, 2007
YELENA Isinbayeva, the queen of the pole vault, defended her title with ease at the world athletics championships in Osaka, Japan, last night, but she failed to extend her world record.

The blue-eyed glamour girl needed just three jumps to seal the win at 4.80m, ahead of Katerina Badurova from the Czech Republic and fellow Russian Svetlana Feofanova, before setting the bar at 5.02m for her record attempt.

Isinbayeva had three tilts at the new mark as Nagai Stadium fell silent, but she failed to make a full jump on her first attempt and then knocked the bar off twice.

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[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.news1130.com/news/sports/art ... t=s082845A

Isinbayeva wins pole vault, Kenyans and Russians in medal sweeps

August 28, 2007 - 1:48 pm

By: RAF CASERT

OSAKA, Japan (AP) - Some champions make the toughest challenge look easy. Count Yelena Isinbayeva and the Kenyan steeple chasers among them.

Then there is Kerron Clement, the new 400-metre hurdle champion, whose running is as good as his jumping is - unorthodox.

Isinbayeva hadn't taken off her track suit yet when the first finalist was already out in the pole vault. She lay down, towel over head and feet up, when most challengers faltered.

She brazenly skipped heights that could have given her gold earlier. She braided her hair in between world record attempts.

On her third jump of the night, she cleared 4.80 metres to win one of the most predictable golds of the world championships.

It was the second world title in a row for the Olympic champion. Then she sought her 21st world record at 5.02. It was the only blemish on a near perfect night, failing three times.

Even the back somersault to celebrate another gold was a cinch.

Czech Katerina Badurova was second at 4.75 on a countback from Svetlana Feofanova of Russia.

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_deta ... con_type=3

Yelena in pole position

Wednesday, August 29, 2007


Pole vault queen Yelena Isinbayeva won gold last night but failed in a world record attempt, as Kenyan runners held sway on the track at the World Athletics Championships in Osaka.
Isinbayeva said before the event she was unbeatable, and it was no idle boast.

The blue-eyed glamor girl needed just three jumps to seal the win at 4.80 meters, ahead of Katerina Badurova of the Czech Republic and Russia's Svetlana Feofanova, before setting the bar at 5.02m for her record attempt.

Isinbayeva had three tilts at the new mark as Nagai Stadium fell silent, but failed to make a full jump at first and then knocked the bar off twice.

"I won and that is the most important," said the Olympic champion.

"The only small disappointment is that I did not jump the world record. I wanted to show everybody something special.

"What was missing to the world record? Maybe some small technical issues, but mainly my concentration."

Badurova and Feofanova both cleared 4.75m but Badurova took silver via countback.

[rainbowgirl28]

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/sports/ge ... 3000c.html

Russian pole vault princess Yelena Isinbayeva reigns supreme

Yelena Isinbaeva of Russia competes in the women's pole vault finals at the 11th IAAF World Athletics Championship in Osaka on Tuesday. (Reuters)
OSAKA -- Russian pole vault princess Yelena Isinbayeva catapulted to a second-straight pole vault gold medal in the World Athletic Championships here on Tuesday night.
The Olympic champion and favorite heading into the event cleared 4.80 meters on her second attempt to defend the title and then tried to leap 5.02 meters to break her own world record but failed.
Katerina Dadurova from the Czech Republic took the silver at 4.75 meters on a count back from Svetlana Feofanova of Russia who won the bronze.
Isinbayeva was relieved to have clinched the gold but wanted to treat the spectators to a world record.
"I won and that is important," said the 2005 female Athlete of the Year. "I love the Japanese crowd, they are fantastic. The only small disappointment was I did not jump the world record. Maybe if some of the girls would jump 4.80 I would feel more pressure and jump higher."
Isinbayeva, who smashed her own world record with a leap of 5.01 meters at the 2005 world championships in Helsinki, oozed confidence heading into the event.
"I know if I do my best, it is impossible for somebody to beat me," said the 25-year-old star ahead of the meet. "There's no chance for anybody. Sorry, it's like this."
With 20 world records to her name, few doubted Isinbayeva's self belief, although her best leap this year of 4.91 meters was only 3 centimeters more than American Jennifer Stuczynski posted early in the season.
But Stuczynski struggled in the final and finished a disappointing 10th after she was hampered by a leg injury.

Russia's gold medal winner Yelena Isinbayeva celebrates on Tuesday in Osaka. (AP Photo/Thomas Kienzle)
Isinbayeva has dominated pole vaulting since she captured the bronze medal at the 2003 World Championships in Paris. Major titles to her credit include the world indoor championships in 2004 and 2006, Olympic gold in 2004, and the World crown in 2005 and again in Osaka on Tuesday night.
Surprisingly, as a child Isinbayeva dreamed of becoming an Olympic champion in a different sport -- gymnastics.
But at 15 she acknowledged her ambitions as a gymnast were not realistic and took up pole vaulting and the skills learned on the mat enabled her to quickly perfect her jumping technique.
Inspired by men's pole vaulting legend Sergey Bubka, Isinbayeva strives to better his 35 world records. Considering at the same age of 25, the Ukrainian marvel had set 18 global records, Isinbayeva is on pace to eclipse her mentor.

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.usatf.org/news/view.aspx?DUI ... 8_07_21_40

Women's Pole Vault

Jenn Stuczynski (Churchville, N.Y.)–It got to the point that I really couldn't push off anymore off my left foot. Before the competition, I tried everything in order to be able to go. I tried taping it tighter. Between jumps, I was talking to my coach on moving and adjusting my marks, but it wasn't doing any good. It came to a point where I didn't want to risk hurting it any further.

[BruceFlorman]

Here’s the Isinterview™ that was posted about twelve hours ago on AllSport.ru:
[quote]19:28 28.08.2007 – Light Athletics – World Championship of Light Athletics-2007
Yelena Isinbaeva: I accomplished the primary task – I won, and world records haven’t left me, I believe in this

Today, 28 August, the women’s pole vault final was held at the world championships of light athletics in Osaka. Predictably the victory went to Russia’s Yelena Isinbaeva, after jumping 4.80 m. After the tournament she explained to the special correspondents of the Agency of sport information “All Sportâ€Â

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/beijing2008/ ... 89363.html

OSAKA: Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva took a swipe at her competitors after failing to set a world record at the world athletics titles.

The 25-year-old needed just three jumps to defend her world crown on Tuesday but could not beat her mark of 5.01 metres, set two years ago in Helsinki.

However, Isinbayeva said she could go higher if she had more competition. "What was missing to the world record? Maybe some technical issues, but mainly my concentration. I waited too long between the attempts," she said.

"Maybe if some of the girls would jump 4.80m I would feel more pressure and jump higher. I still have six competitions left and I hope I can break the record."

Isinbayeva strolled through the final, easily clearing 4.80m with her third jump as her competitors toiled.

She then took centre stage, raising the bar to 5.02m as the crowd fell silent. But there was no repeat of her Helsinki heroics.

"I won and that is the most important," she said. "The only small disappointment is that I did not jump the world record."

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.tsn.ca/tsn/news_story/?ID=217132&hubname=

Associated Press
8/29/2007 10:48:43 AM
OSAKA, Japan (AP) - Yelena Isinbayeva winked at the camera, already celebrating her second straight pole vault title as she attempted to break her world record.

"I'm always under high attention," the 25-year-old Russian pole vaulter said. "Everyone expects something from me."

That is what happens when you set 20 indoor and outdoor world records.

She fell short of setting another Tuesday night at the world track and field championships, missing on all three attempts at the height of 5.02 metres, one centimetre higher than the record she set at the 2005 worlds.

"I was so close," Isinbayeva said. "I felt I came over (the bar), and when I saw the bar fall down I said, 'Noooo.' It's OK. Next time it will happen for sure."



For all her success, Isinbayeva decided she needed to step back to move forward. She spent last season dissecting her pole-vaulting technique. Isinbayeva then struggled with a stiffer pole, a higher grip and a new "swing technique" her coach, Vitaly Petrov, wanted to implement.

She didn't set any world records last season, but she promises a record will happen soon.

At Osaka, Czech Republic's Katherine Badurova took silver and former world champion Svetlana Feofanova of Russia finished third.

Isinbayeva was calm and relaxed as she went about the task of attempting to set a new world mark. Between her first and second world-record attempts, she sat down and braided her hair. She also walked over to the edge of the infield to talk to her coach, and then winked at the camera as she returned.

"This was fun," she said.

But maybe not as much fun for her competitors. At a news conference before the championships, Isinbayeva was asked if she could be defeated. Without hesitation, she answered, "No."

"The only small disappointment is that I did not jump the world record," Isinbayeva said. "I wanted to show everybody something special."

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/08/29/sports/TRACK.php

Athletics: Pole-vault diva toys with foes and fans

By Juliet Macur
Published: August 29, 2007

OSAKA, Japan: While her competitors struggled, one dropping out with a leg injury, another puffy-eyed and crying after a dispute with the judges, Yelena Isinbayeva remained in her bubble.

She stretched out on the infield of Nagai Stadium with a big white towel over her head, hiding from the television cameras that seem magnetized to her. There in the dark, she dreamed of breaking the world record in the pole vault Tuesday at the track and field world championships.

But for Isinbayeva, the greatest female pole-vaulter in history, that world record would have to wait, perhaps until next year's Olympics, where she is bound to be one of Beijing's biggest stars.

She tried to clear 5.02 meters, or 16 feet 5½ inches, to break her own record, but failed, doing a back flip in the pole-vault pit as a consolation for the fans.

In the end, Isinbayeva had to settle for the gold medal, vaulting 4.80 meters with plenty room to spare.

"Nobody can beat me, nobody, so sorry for this," Isinbayeva said, with a sweet giggle. "The other girls, they need to jump higher to even come close, but I don't think it will. Right now, it is impossible. No chance."

In the pole vault, Jenn Stuczynski of the United States left with tears, not anger. Stuczynski, who had taken up pole vaulting only three years ago, had come into the competition hoping to put some pressure on Isinbayeva. But an injury to Stuczynski's left Achilles' tendon caused her to bow out of the competition. It was an anticlimactic end to her first world championships, in the year she became the first American woman to clear 16 feet. Only Isinbayeva has jumped higher.

Stuczynski finished 10th, and another competitor, Tatyana Polnova of Russia, left the track sobbing after failing to convince judges that her attempt at 4.65 meters was legitimate.

While they were left with their sorrow, Isinbayeva celebrated her second world title by running around the track draped in a Russian flag, photographers in orange vests swarming her.

Isinbayeva was not able to add the world record to the 20 pole-vault records she had already set, both indoor and out.

She simply soaked up the attention, just the way Clement did, knowing full well that this title will make them the favorite - and perhaps a star - in Beijing.

Here in Osaka, Isinbayeva has already become famous. She said teenage girls had come up to her in the street and said she inspired them to begin pole-vaulting. She said people crowded her for autographs, as if she were a movie star.

To play to reporters, Isinbayeva said she had learned a little Japanese. Only on the field will she hide beneath that white towel, to escape the publicity.

"I'm always under high attention," she said. "People want you to be a certain way, and I try to be that way for them. It is, how do you say, that is my style.

"I just wish I could have broken the world record tonight to give the people something special."

[rainbowgirl28]

http://eng.rusathletics.com/nov/nov.php?ind=1912

Looks can be deceiving - ‘It’s not as easy as it looks,’ Isinbayeva insists
28.08.2007, IAAF

Osaka, Japan - “It’s not as easy as it looks,â€Â