Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Russia's athletics icon Yelena Isinbayeva set a new indoor world pole vault record of five metres at the annual Bubka memorial tournament here on Sunday.
The 26-year-old beat her previous record of 4.95m, which she achieved here last year, and it was the sixth time in as many years that she has set a new world record indoors in Donetsk.
Two-time Olympic champion Isinbayeva was trailing Brazilian Fabian Murer, who set a new South American record with a 4.81m vault, but managed to clear the 4.86m mark in her next attempt to assure herself top place.
Her next two attempts at 4.96m were unsuccessful, but on her third try she managed to clear 4.97m to set a new world record.
"It was just superstition," she said. "We decided for 4.97 instead of wasting another attempt on an unlucky number."
She then ordered the five-metre mark, which she managed to clear on her second attempt.
Isinbayeva said that her pre-meet game plan was to add two world records to her already bulging collection.
"We had in mind to first do 4.96 and then five metres," she said. "The reason is the atmosphere here. It's a very special competition and there are lots of special connections for me here."
Isinbayeva has two more competitions planned this winter - in Birmingham next weekend, and the Prague International on February 26.
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