Yelena Isinbaeva is the world record holder in the pole vault at 16’5″. She is a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist (2004 and 2008) and was named Female Athlete of the Year by the IAAF in 2004, 2005 and 2008. In 2007 and 2009, she was named the World Sportswoman of the Year by Laureus. Her resume of achievements and accomplishments has many calling her the greatest female pole vaulter of all times.
The New York Times has reported Yelena is “taking an indefinite break but insists she will try to win a third straight Olympic gold medal at London in 2012. [Yelena] said in a statement Saturday that it was her “full intention” to keep training, and that she had not ruled out competing in the European championships in Barcelona, Spain, in July”
Christopher Meatto