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ATHLETICS. Yelena Isinbaeva: "If the season ends without a world record, I’ll be upset, but it won’t be a tragedy for me"
Russia’s Yelena Isinbaeva arrived with the new status to the fourth stage of the prestigious athletics "Golden League" series, took place on September, 7 in Zurich. If we don’t consider the world records, the Olympic champion, the World and European champion in women’s Pole Vault became "two-fold" for the first time – the two-fold World champion. In Osaka she added titles, but in other respects for Isinbaeva everything is as before - press conferences, and tournaments, tournaments, tournaments... The second-half of the "Golden League" is beginning, and if she wins the following three stages, she will win the one million dollar jackpot. Yelena Isinbaeva shared her plans and expectations with Natalya Maryanchik, the special correspondent for the Agency of sport information "All Sport" in Zurich.- Lena, have you already had time to recover after tbe sweltering Osaka?
- Yes, I’m completely acclimatized. I flew away from the World Championships right after the completion of the final, on August, 30. It’s even hard for me to say whether I’m more comfortable here, when it’s quite cool in the street, or in Osaka. On the day of the final in Osaka the weather was just ideal – the sun didn’t interfere and the wind was at our backs.
- What sort of reception did they arrange for you at the base in Formia?
- None at all! When we flew in, the base was practically empty, and I immediately resumed my training. I don’t have a regular training group. From time to time foreign athletes come to Vitaliy Petrov for consultation, but as a rule they don’t stay with us for very long - three weeks to a month at most. I enjoy this regime, as there’s no monotony and it’s interesting to train with different athletes.
- In Zurich you'll compete in parallel with the men. They won’t interfere with you?
- No, when we and men are together in the sector, this is always additional motivation. In comparison to their results, the heights which I overcome seem so low. I’ve already had similar experiences both at Sergey Bubka’s tournament in Donetsk and at a summer start in Germany. It seems to me that when competitions go in parallel, the results in both come out much higher. We can help and give suggestions to each other.
- Do you think the men will prompt you on how to jump?
- I learn from them, they learn from me. Here everything is mutual. Many experts call my technique masculine, so probably the men can spy something useful in my jumps. We rarely intersect at the competitions; therefore I haven’t formed close friendships with any of the male athletes. But a month ago, right here in Zurich, Tim Lobinger and I gave a joint press conference, and we got along rather well.
- Do you know that the Swiss bookmakers refused to set odds on your winning in Zurich?
- Really? That’s too bad. I remember in 2004, during the Olympic Games in Athens there was also a totalizator [pari-mutuel betting machine]. Then we had the duel with Svetlana Feofanova, and the odds for my victory started at 2:1, and for her - 4:1; as if the bookmakers knew that I would win! But seriously, anything can happen in the sector, of course. No one can know anything for certain.
- But do you feel psychological pressure?
- Not at all, I’m already used to it. Little things rather irritate me. For example, when it’s necessary to wait several hours to jump. But this is probably the only thing that actually bothers me. In other aspects I’m calm and relaxed.
- How do you like the new stadium in Zurich, whose unveiling takes place today?
- In my opinion it’s simply remarkable. When I was here a month ago at the press conference, we drove to have a look at the stadium, which was still under construction. I know the sector is supposed to have a fundamentally new surface. It won’t allow the foot to twist sideways when you push off, thus the force will go directly upward, and hence the jump will also be higher. So I expect outstanding results from myself and from all the girls.
- This super-surface it seems was created especially for the world records.
- First of all I want to win. This is the "Golden League", and my first priority is to win all six stages. My technique and my health make this possible. And after that, I want to do something significant and unforgettable. I don’t want to say out loud what this will be, but I think everyone understands what I mean.
- Do you keep an eye on the two remaining contenders for the jackpot who may split the million dollars with you - Sanya Richards and Michelle Perry?
- No, in the end this isn’t so important to me. Certainly I’d like to win the entire million dollars, but I don’t wish defeat on anyone. Tomorrow these girls will finish before I even start, so I’ll be able to concentrate completely on my own performance.
- And do you have thoughts about trying to jump 4.92 m, to first increase your best result of the season?
- I don’t see any special point in jumping 4.92. For me this is more of a tactical height, which I’ll attempt if it’s required based on how the competition goes. By the way, it may be difficult to say exactly what will be necessary today. I see the girls are in a strong frame of mind, and after Osaka everyone is in good shape. In Japan 12 people jumped 4.55 m - this, as far as I know, is a record in the women’s pole vault. If the average level rises, even to 4.80, this is even better for me.
- Have you already started work in the athletes’ commission of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), to which you were recently elected?
- No, my first familiarization session will take place this winter. I think my exact functions and responsibilities will be described for me there. But generally, I plan to spend something like a week in summer and another in winter working for the commission. We are meeting exactly twice each year.
- You’ve undoubtedly been following the events going on with the Russian team, where the chief coach Valery Kulichenko has been temporarily suspended on charges of being involved with doping.
- It’s difficult for me to comment on this situation, because in reality nothing depends on us, the athletes. We don’t have access to information, however, whatever is actually going on there, it’s above, in the management. I don’t have the slightest idea how this situation came about. But I have normal working relations with Valery Georgiyevich in his post of the chief coach.
- Did you know that some of the team leaders signed a letter in support of Kulichenko?
- No, this is the first I’ve heard about it. Probably, I’m at home too rarely (laughing). No one came to me requesting that I sign anything. And if they had, I don’t even know how I’d have reacted. But of course, first of all I would read the letter there.
- Will you be very upset if the season ends without a world record?
- This wouldn’t be a tragedy for me. But I’ll be upset.
