Yelena Isinbayeva prepares for the Pole Vault qualification round (© Getty Images)
World and Olympic champion, and World record holder in the women's Pole Vault, Yelena Isinbayeva, 24, spent an eloquent 20 minutes chatting at today’s press conference ahead of tomorrow night’s (Saturday 8 July) Meeting Gaz de France Paris Saint-Denis, in the Stade de France.
The topics discussed ranged from her new coaching set-up with Vitaly Petrov in Formia, Italy, and her change of technique, her appraisal of her principal opponents' abilities and potential, and her hobbies which include reading Russian history and a love of everything to do with dolphins. Yes, you did read that correctly, dolphins – more later!
The outdoor season so far has seen Isinbayeva’s principal rivals such as Monika Pyrek (4.75m), who also trains under the tutelage of Petrov, fellow Pole Anna Rogowska (4.70m), and France’s Vanessa Boslak (4.70m NR), climb closer to her lofty accomplishments of the 2005 summer (5.01m World record), and the winter of 2006 (4.91m World Indoor record), but of course the Russian has yet to jump outdoors this year. After her outdoor opener at tomorrow night’s IAAF Golden League meeting we could well discover the 2004 and 2005 World Athlete of the Year really has found another level of excellence under the guidance of her new coach.
Yet the degree of importance Isinbayeva rests on discovering opponents of her own stature was self-evident in her comments today.
“There will be more interest for spectators, now that my rivals are coming closer,” commented Isinbayeva, and “with closer competition, comes more inspiration, so it’s good for me also.”
She was full of praise for her chief opponents. "Monika’s (Pyrek) jump in Malaga (European Cup) was a very good result for her. They (rivals) are all stronger and are jumping much higher than last year.”
“There are a few of the girls who can jump 4.80. I know Monika can already do that because I have seen her training in Formia. I don’t know about Rogowska because I haven’t seen her. And the French girl Boslak? Yes, I saw her jump in Malaga when she did 4.70, and 4.80 is possible for her too.”
Most leaders in any field are happy to be preeminent but this was not the case for Isinbayeva at the end of last year. After 17 straight competitions in 2005 she no heighted in Yokohama at the end of the year, and was at a point of physical and mental burn out. Fed up with a sport which she had already conquered at the age of just 23, she was desperate for something new, and in her change of coach and technique she found the answer.
“I needed something new. I needed a new push. It was getting boring just doing the pole vault as I was. I had no competition, I had won everything, there was no point in continuing the pole vault like that, and because of that I made a total change in my life.”
“Yes, I am a totally happier person than I was at the end of last year.”
Training with Petrov has led to significant changes to her technique but she was still tentative about these developments at the start of this year.
“My goal in Moscow (World Indoors) was just to win, as my technique was new to me then, but I am now relaxed and more confident in my new technique.
“My running position is different. Before my shoulders were a little forward but now they are more upright in position when I run, and this allows me to run faster and get more speed. The take-off is different too.”
“But yes, I will still be talking to my pole before I jump, but no, I still won’t tell you what I am saying,” said Isinbayeva with a broad grin on her face.
After her World Indoor championship win in Moscow in March, the Olympic champion took a holiday and then at the start of April began her annual three-month preparation period for the outdoor season, which is why Paris is only her first competition of the season. "I always require three months preparation."
“Tomorrow, I will be happy to win, and after that (as the season progresses) we will see about heights.”
“My main goal of the year is Gothenburg (European Championships).”
And finally, what does the multi-world record breaking athlete do in between training and competition?
“I read a lot about Russian history, but I also love everything to do with dolphins, and collect small models of them. I have about 30 of them. My dream one day is to swim with real dolphins. I like them so much.”
Well, that was one flip to the changing life of Isinbayeva which we weren't expecting!
Chris Turner for the IAAF
