Isinbayeva breaks pole vault world record
Yelena Isinbayeva breaks pole vault world record
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Wednesday, 30, Jul 2008 11:18
Pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva ensured the perfect tonic ahead of the Beijing Olympics by breaking her own world record at the Super Grand Prix in Monaco.
The Russian, who is the favourite to retain the title she won in Athens four years ago, jumped 5.04m - putting an extra centimetre on her existing record which she set in Rome earlier this month.
The 26-year-old reigning world champion set the mark – which is the 23rd time she has broken a world record in her career – on her third and final attempt in the French principality.
Isinbayeva, who lives in Monaco and was competing as her final warm-up event before travelling to China, told reporters afterwards: "The record just happened.
"Monaco is my home town and it's my first competition [in Monaco] since I've been living here. That motivated me."
The Russian said she is in "good shape" ahead of the Games, which begin next Friday, and she admitted her sole focus was to continue improving her form in the build-up to the event.
"I just need to keep my condition this way until the Olympics," she added.
"I wanted to improve my personal best and that's what I did. I see this world record first of all as a personal best."