Volgograd, Russia – Russia's two-time Olympic pole-vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva is targeting an international comeback this season after a series of setbacks last year, she told AFP in an interview.
The glamorous native of the Volga river city of Volgograd astonished the world and became Russia's best known sportswoman by winning Olympic gold in Athens and Beijing and lifting the world record to well above five metres.
However, her aura of invincibility slipped when she failed to record a height in the final stage of the 2009 Berlin world championships and only came fourth in last year's world indoor championships in Doha.
She has not appeared in competition outside Russia or Ukraine since.
But Isinbayeva, who has only participated in five events in the last two years, told AFP that the 2011 world championships in Daegu, South Korea, would be a springboard for the London Olympics and more world records.
“I want to win the 2011 world championships, the 2012 Olympics, and, of course, set more world records,” she said.
“I definitely aim to compete in Korea.”
Isinbayeva, 29, who has set 27 world records in her career so far, added she was preparing to gain revenge for her defeat in the pole vault at the previous world championships in Berlin, which was won by Anna Rogowska of Poland.
Her coach Yevgeny Trofimov told AFP that his star pupil had decided to compete at the KBC Night of Athletics in Belgium on July 16.
“Together with Yelena and her new manager we decided Belgium would be a good place to see what condition she is in,” Trofimov said.
“We came to the conclusion that the date and the venue are suitable for her return to competition.”
Trofimov added that Isinbayeva had experienced trouble with her left Achilles tendon but refused any other comments on her current form.
After her failure at the indoor world championships in Doha, Qatar, in March last year, Isinbayeva took a break and went back to Trofimov, her first coach.
She returned to competition in February, winning two indoor events in Moscow and Donetsk, Ukraine, where she produced a season's best of 4.85 metres.
Isinbayeva then withdrew from competition again, although she kept a high profile in Russia, appearing in commercials for women's cosmetics.
Viktor Kuzin, the coach of the jumping section of Russia's national squad, told AFP he was confident that Isinbayeva will reach her top form for the beginning of the world championships in Korea on August 27-September 4.
“Yelena performed very well in February and produced top-class results,” Kuzin said.
“However, she lacks practice ahead of the world championships, which is a really unusual situation for her.
“That said, she possesses colossal experience and knows well how to prepare for the most important part of the season the best possible way.
“Maybe she doesn't need to compete too often.”
The country's national athletics squad head coach Valentin Maslakov also showed no trace of concern, saying he was sure Isinbayeva would either reach top form for the world championships or withdraw from competing there.
“We had no doubts about including Isinbayeva in the squad,” Maslakov said. “She deserves it as no other pole-vaulter has such an impressive track record.
“She is an experienced athlete and is capable of making the right decisions. I'm sure that if she doesn't feel able to compete for the gold medal, she will withdraw.” – Sapa-AFP