By DPA,
Monte Carlo : The 2008 World Athlete of the Year Yelena Isinbayeva has redefined the young sport of women’s pole vault in every aspect from world records to sex appeal.
If Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, who won the men’s award Sunday, is called “The chilled out flying machine” then Isinbayeva has every right to be named “The attention-craving vaulting queen.”
The 26-year-old Russian from Volgograd loves to flirt with the crowd which reached new heights at the Beijing Olympics as she soared 5.05 metres for her 24th career world record and a second Olympic gold.
“This is a very aesthetic and feminine sport,” Isinbayeva told the Russian Komsomolskaya Pravda daily last month.
“Not everyone gets the pole vault. And if they get it, not everyone does it beautifully. So when it comes out high and beautiful, it’s the peak of perfection.”
Isinbayeva, who had to quit gymnastics early because she was considered too tall, has ruled the discipline since 2004 and broke the famous five-metres-barrier in July 2005.
She loves the attention without being arrogant, and her dominant status in the sport as well which gave her the World Athlete award for the third time following 2004 and 2005.
“I love to be alone at the top. It is cool and I want to keep it as long as possible. Only the sky is my limit,” she said in Beijing, beaming her famous smile.
Isinbayeva needs only 12 more records to break the 35 records mighty Sergei Bubka achieved in the men’s pole vault. Isinbayeva set no record in 2006 and 2007 but is now back on track with three world records in 2008.
“Yes I will do it. I have just 12 more to go. Life would be boring without world records so I want to continue forever,” she said.
Isinbayeva says she left her dreams behind in her childhood and needs to work hard for her success.
“For me to get what I want, I have to brutally plow. So I don’t dream, but set goals for myself. When I reach one, I go on to the next,” she told Komsomolskaya Pravda.