Isinbayeva eyes golden comeback
Russia's two-time Olympic pole-vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva is
targeting an international comeback this season after a series of
setbacks last year, she told AFP in an interview.
The glamorous native of the Volga river city of Volgograd astonished
the world and became Russia's best known sportswoman by winning Olympic
gold in Athens and Beijing and lifting the world record to well above
five metres.
However, her aura of invincibility slipped when she failed to record
a height in the final stage of the 2009 Berlin world championships and
only came fourth in last year's world indoor championships in Doha.
She has not appeared in competition outside Russia or Ukraine since.
But Isinbayeva, who has only participated in five events in the last
two years, told AFP that the 2011 world championships in Daegu, South
Korea, would be a springboard for the London Olympics and more world
records. "I want to win the 2011 world championships, the 2012 Olympics,
and, of course, set more world records," she said.
"I definitely aim to compete in Korea." Isinbayeva, 29, who has set
27 world records in her career so far, added she was preparing to gain
revenge for her defeat in the pole vault at the previous world
championships in Berlin, which was won by Anna Rogowska of Poland.
Her coach Yevgeny Trofimov told AFP that his star pupil had decided
to compete at the KBC Night of Athletics in Belgium on July 16.
"Together with Yelena and her new manager we decided Belgium would be
a good place to see what condition she is in," Trofimov said.
"We came to the conclusion that the date and the venue are suitable
for her return to competition." Trofimov added that Isinbayeva had
experienced trouble with her left Achilles tendon but refused any other
comments on her current form.
After her failure at the indoor world championships in Doha, Qatar,
in March last year, Isinbayeva took a break and went back to Trofimov,
her first coach.
She returned to competition in February, winning two indoor events in
Moscow and Donetsk, Ukraine, where she produced a season's best of 4.85
metres.
Isinbayeva then withdrew from competition again, although she kept a
high profile in Russia, appearing in commercials for women's cosmetics.
Viktor Kuzin, the coach of the jumping section of Russia's national
squad, told AFP he was confident that Isinbayeva will reach her top form
for the beginning of the world championships in Korea on August
27-September 4.
"Yelena performed very well in February and produced top-class
results," Kuzin said. "However, she lacks practice ahead of the world
championships, which is a really unusual situation for her.
"That said, she possesses colossal experience and knows well how to
prepare for the most important part of the season the best possible way.
"Maybe she doesn't need to compete too often."
The country's national athletics squad head coach Valentin Maslakov
also showed no trace of concern, saying he was sure Isinbayeva would
either reach top form for the world championships or withdraw from
competing there.
"We had no doubts about including Isinbayeva in the squad," Maslakov
said. "She deserves it as no other pole-vaulter has such an impressive
track record.
"She is an experienced athlete and is capable of making the right
decisions. I'm sure that if she doesn't feel able to compete for the
gold medal, she will withdraw." AFP |