Isinbayeva eyes new record

Legendary Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, who broke her own world record with 5.01 meters at the world athletics championships on Friday in Helsinki, has set her new goal at the height of 5.02m.

"I'm sure I'll be able to clear 5.02m still during this season, " the world and Olympic champion said.

Isinbayeva told the press conference that she would still have five or six competitions this year and she would try her best to create new record.

For the next year, she would participate in a national games in Moscow and she would also want to set new record.

However, the 23-year-old said setting a new world record is by no means so easy.

"It is very difficult, although it looks easy," she said with a smile on her face.

"Today the world record height seemed to be extremely high. It was really difficult to jump at that height." she added.

She said she was capable of flying over 5.03m in the future if she is in "good form" and flies under "good conditions".

Isinbayeva made the history on Friday in Helsinki with no strong rival to challenge her.

As the championships entered its seventh day, the sun showed up on the Finnish capital for the first time since Tuesday morning, creating an ideal condition for the pole vault final, which would have been held on Wednesday but was postponed because of bad weather.

Isinbayeva, who recently set the world record of 5.00m in London, directly demanded a starting height of 4.50m, and she made it at the first attempt.

After the height of 4.60m, the 23-year-old saw no rivals except Polish vaulter Monika Pyrek.

Isinbayeva flew over the 4.70m at her first try but Pyrek failed at her first two attempts.

Pyrek, whose personal best is 4.72m, betted her fate by demanding the height of 4.75m for her last try. She had a bad luck.

With gold medal already in hand, Isinbayeva asked for the height of 5.01m, one centimeter higher than her and world record of 5.00m, which ignited the enthusiasm among the audiences.

With thunderous applauses, Isinbayeva failed at her first attempt and she then went close to the audience seats to talk with her coach.

"He told me the wind (direction)," Isinbayeva revealed at the press conference.

At the second attempt, she made it, making herself the second athlete to break the world record at the championships after her compatriot Olimpiada Ivanova who broke the world record of woman's 20km race walk on Aug. 7.

"I'm extremely happy and satisfied with the world record and the gold medal in the World Championships," she said.

Polish vaulter Monika Pyrek took the silver medal by flying over 4.60m while Pavla Hamackova grabbed the bronze with 4.50m.

Asian record holder Gao Shuying of China created her seasonal best by clocking 4.50m to take the fifth place.

Source: Xinhua