Russia's Yelena Isinbayeva, who holds the world mark of 5.05 meters, clears 4.60 meters to win the women's pole vault title at the Shanghai Athletics Grand Prix in Shanghai, September 20, 2008. [Agencies] |
SHANGHAI - Russian pole vault queen Yelena Isinbayeva thrilled an adoring crowd with her winning jump at Saturday's Shanghai Golden Grand Prix despite failing in her bid to beat her own world record.
Russia's Yelena Isinbayeva, who holds the world mark of 5.05 meters, clears 4.60 meters to win the women's pole vault title at the Shanghai Athletics Grand Prix in Shanghai, September 20, 2008. [Agencies] |
She was one of several Olympic champions who returned to China after winning gold in Beijing for the one-day International Association of Athletics Federation's post-season event.
Isinbayeva, who won clearing 4.60 metres, blew kisses to the stands as she climbed off the mat after her last vault.
The greatest-ever female pole vaulter had said she wanted to make history in Shanghai but warned at a pre-event news conference that fatigue might prevent her from her world record of 5.05 metres in Beijing last month.
