by Larry EderThe women’s pole vault is one of the most popular events on the global scene. One of the most popular, telegenic and dominating athletes in all of sports is the Russian Yelena Isinbayeva. In two attempts, she took the Olympic title, in five attempts, she took the Olympic record and in eight attempts, she set the new world record, here twenty-fourth! Jenni Stuczysnski of the US broke up a posible Russian sweep of the event with her silver….
Jenn Stuczysnki is getting her head around the fact that she is the number two pole vaulter for women in the world, and she has a pretty dominating challenger in Yelena Isinbayeva.
Stuczynski vaulted smart tonight. She made first attempt clearances of 4.55m and 4.70 meters. She took two attempts to clear 4.75 meters and on her first attempt, cleared 4.80 meters.
Svetlana Feonfanova, all of 28, cleared 4.45m, 4.55m on her first attempt, took two attempts at 4.65 meters, cleared 4.75 meter on her first attempt, but then missed three times at 4.80 meters. Feofananova cleared her seasonal best.
In fourth, Yulia Golubchikova of Russia cleared 4.45m, then 4.55 m, then 4.65 meters, and took two to clear 4.75 meters. She was in medal contention until she missed at 4.80 meters three times. Here two attempts to clear 4.75 meters ended up costing her the bronze medal, to which she cried after her last miss. Carolin Tamara Hingst of Germany was fifth in 4.65 meters, a seasonal best.
The second US vaulter, April Steiner-Bennett, cleared 4.30m, 4.45m and 4.55 meters, but missed at 4.65 three times, finishing eighth.
The following is Yelena Isinbayeva’s comments after her world record, in the mixed zone:
” I was trying to do my best today. It makes me happy, so happy. I felt that I could not go out without the world record because of the support of the crowd, I remember my feelings from Athens and I wanted to feel that again…the sky is my only limit…It is hard to be more perfect than this, I will still improve and the next goal is London (2012) Olympics… I want to share ( my gold medal) with my coach, my mum and my boyfriend.”
