Yelena Isinbayeva sets a new World Record Indoor for Pole Vault (5.01m)!!

Dan man

Two-time Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva has made a return to the big-time with a surprising World record in Stockholm. There was no doubt she was on the road back to her best form, but I didn't expect it this soon. Good to see her back at her best. What was true to form however was her knack of adding 1cm to the previous record!!

http://www.iaaf.org/Mini/WIM12/News/NewsDetail.aspx?id=63665

Pisco Sour

It’s a joke how much money she has made off WR’s. Being a field eventer in an event which is very young and until she came around extremely weak has allowed her to take advantage of the very generous prize money on offer for world records. No way should the prize money on offer for a WR in women’s pole vault be the same as say the Women’s 400m.

Just not a big fan of how she has played the whole WR game. She had gone over 5 metres in training when she was setting “World Records” of 4:90, 4:91m, 4.92m... etc. From a financial perspective it is smart by her, but from a sporting point of view I don’t tend to take any great interest in her records as the majority of them I don’t believe reflected what she was truly capable of, and the whole thing was just a show to make headlines.

Dan man

04072511 wrote: »

It’s a joke how much money she has made off WR’s. Being a field eventer in an event which is very young and until she came around extremely weak has allowed her to take advantage of the very generous prize money on offer for world records. No way should the prize money on offer for a WR in women’s pole vault be the same as say the Women’s 400m.

Just not a big fan of how she has played the whole WR game. She had gone over 5 metres in training when she was setting “World Records” of 4:90, 4:91m, 4.92m... etc. From a financial perspective it is smart by her, but from a sporting point of view I don’t tend to take any great interest in her records as the majority of them I don’t believe reflected what she was truly capable of, and the whole thing was just a show to make headlines.

It may be frustrating for fans of the sport but you can't blame her one bit for doing so, I know I would do the same given the chance. Sergiy Bubka's world record doesn't do justice either to the actual height he could clear in training, which is a shame but hey, in athletics you make hay when the sun shines, so you can see why they go for the 1cm every time.

robinph

Exactly the same as Bubka did back in the day. Not as if there is much other earning potential for field eventers, well there is more earnings available for the women I guess.

Pisco Sour

Dan man wrote: »

It may be frustrating for fans of the sport but you can't blame her one bit for doing so, I know I would do the same given the chance. Sergiy Bubka's world record doesn't do justice either to the actual height he could clear in training, which is a shame but hey, in athletics you make hay when the sun shines, so you can see why they go for the 1cm every time.

I can see why she would do that but for that reason I believe the prize money should be significantly less for it. The records are too easy for her to break. How can it be comparable for somebody trying to break a drugged up Marita Koch record?

shels4ever

04072511 wrote: »

I can see why she would do that but for that reason I believe the prize money should be significantly less for it. The records are too easy for her to break. How can it be comparable for somebody trying to break a drugged up Marita Koch record?

It's not her fault that she is far far better then any other women ever in the event, even if it is a newish event for the women.
Doesnt mean she isnt the greatest ever and only time will show how good sshe really is, plus she is easy on the eye.

robinph

If it's such a soft record then anyone else is welcome to have a go at it and break it by 1cm at a time too.

Dan man

For me, it is always special to see world records, granted some are more special than others but it's still a great achievement. It gives the sport a bit of press too which is a bonus.

Pisco Sour

shels4ever wrote: »

It's not her fault that she is far far better then any other women ever in the event, even if it is a newish event for the women.
Doesnt mean she isnt the greatest ever and only time will show how good sshe really is, plus she is easy on the eye.

She doesn’t have to compete against drugged up records from the 80’s like the majority of women in athletics have to contend with. Her event is incredibly new and she being honest, was probably the first truly world class athlete to come along in that event. She is no better in my eyes than Allyson Felix for example, but sadly she will never have a chance of claiming a world record, not to mention running within herself to claim such a record and prize money on multiple occasions.

I remember reading an article awhile back where a female athlete was giving out about how impossible it is for most women to break tainted world records and therefore because of this they will never get the same headlines as the men, who are breaking world records no problem today. I cant find it now, but think it was Sanya Richards or VCB who was talking about it.

Also, a side note, but a bit disturbing to see one of the major organisations recognise an appalling drug cheat with a Q&A:

http://www.european-athletics.org/index.php?option=com_content&catid=1&id=9271&view=article

ecoli

Dan man wrote: »

For me, it is always special to see world records, granted some are more special than others but it's still a great achievement. It gives the sport a bit of press too which is a bonus.

This is exactly it people are always more inclined to go to an event where they have a chance of seeing a WR attempt. It is good for the sport

Before Bolt came along she was one of the biggest pulls of the sport and managed to transcend the sport in terms of media exposure (with the odd bit of modelling).

Ideally yes we want to see athletes setting a bar so high that when they are broken it is by some form of genetic freak. But that is the more hardcore track and field fans yet what she is doing is probably more beneficial for the sport in the long run. We need every trick and gimmick we can get to attract the average sports fan

YFlyer

Gebrselassie could have made a fortune in breaking the world record 5000 metres, a la Bubka style.

donothoponpop

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myflipflops

Has she not been in the process of changing her technique over the last couple of years with a view to going higher?

I think she is brilliant for the sport. Dragging a new event to new levels and continually challenging herself. Anyone who sets a WR with their 3rd attempt in the Olympic Final is OK by me.

thirtyfoot

myflipflops wrote: »

Anyone who sets a WR with their 3rd attempt in the Olympic Final is OK by me.

Some balls needed to do that alright.

Same was probably said of Koch back in the day!