by Larry EderIn the Olympics, Yelena Isinbayeva added a third Olympic medal to her coffers.While it was a bronze, Yelena was ecstatic. ” I love my bronze medal, I have faced injuries this spring and only started training ten days ago.” Yelena noted to the press conference at the London Olympics.
So, now that Yelena is back in training and healthy, where does she go from here?
Yelena Isinbayeva, 2012 London Olympics, photo by PhotoRun.net
Yelena Isinbayeva is the most dominant athlete that we have today in the sport of athletics. With 28 world records, seven World indoor and outdoor championship golds, two Olympic golds and one Olympic bronze, Isinbayeva has had the career of three athletes.
Yelena Isinbayeva, 2011 DN. Galan, photo by PhotoRun.net
A former gymnast, Yelena was told the news at the age of fifteen that she was too tall for the sport. The gymnastics coach suggested that Yelena give the pole vault, a new event for women, a try.
Isinbyaveya’s gymmastic core strength helped her immensely. She soon had the 16, 17 and 18 year old world bests at the event.
Her first World Champs medal came in 2003 at St. Denis, where she took the bronze. In 2004, she took the gold Olympic medal as well as the World Indoor, and the story began.
Now, 28 world records later, Yelena Isinbayeva is still motivated. ” I will compete in Moscow definitely. I want to compete against Jenn (Suhr) there.” When Yelena says something like that, she means it. Isinbayeva is the most competitive women athlete that I have ever seen (well Jenn Suhr and Sanya Richards-Ross come to mind as well).
Isinbayeva is back with her first coach. She is training well and her jumping in London was pretty impressive, considering many, including Jenn Suhr’s coach, Rich Suhr noted, ” it was the most difficult conditions that we have ever jumped in, period.”
One keen observer of the sport noted this, ” Of course Yelena Isinbayeva will come back, and set a few more world records. She is back on track and healthy. And the competitions between her and Jenn Suhr, and the Cuban vaulter, Yarsiley Silva, will be a lot of fun to watch! “
As track fans, we just can not wait!
