It is awards time again, with voting entering the final week for the prestigious European Athletics titles of male and female Athlete of the Year and male and female Rising Star. Fans and media can vote (details below) until this Friday – 27 September – at midnight (CET).
It has been spectacular summer for track and field with so many different names in the running for the titles. Today, in a series of profiles of the main contenders, we look at a woman whose glory was the loudest of them all.
Whatever Yelena Isinbayeva could have hoped for when she woke up on the morning of the pole vault final in Moscow, the outcome was probably not even in her wildest dreams.
Whatever Yelena Isinbayeva could have hoped for when she woke up on the morning of the pole vault final in Moscow, the outcome was probably not even in her wildest dreams.
Not the fact that she won, because as a double world champion, the desire for a third title was the forefront of her professional approach to this summer.
But when she hit the mat, after clearing the height of 4.89m which brought her gold, the noise which erupted in the Luzhniki Stadium was incredible.
“I won because I was at home,” said Isinbayeva, 31. “I want to thank all the fans, their support made it happen.”
Chants of “Yelena, Yelena” had greeted each clearance on the night which will be talked about most when these IAAF World Championships are remembered. more
