Isinbayeva aims for third pole vault gold at Olympics

DPA/MoscowYelena Isinbayeva is the face of athletics as she has redefined women’s pole vault for more than a decade. She returns from a baby break and tells DPA that she hopes that Russia’s suspension is lifted so that she can compete at her last Olympics in Rio next year.Russian pole vault star Yelena Isinbayeva seeks a third Olympic title in the dusk of her career but it appears not in her hands whether she can really cap her comeback from the baby break with another gold next year in Rio de Janeiro. The suspension of the Russian athletics federation over widespread doping endangers her participation in Brazil in her final year as an athlete, a situation Isinbeyava names “unfair” in an email interview with dpa because it also punishes clean athletes. “All I can do is to say that the current situation in athletics is very complicated, unclear and unfair,” she said. “I hope that all is good again by the time of the Summer Games and that I can represent my country.” The 34-year-old did not want to look into possibly being able to compete under the Olympic flag in Rio but rather hopes that Russia will fulfil the demands made by the ruling body IAAF and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Isinbayeva admitted she was “shocked” about the extent of the affair but insisted that a clear distinction is needed between cheaters and clean athletes. “I have the impression that a decision was to be made without looking into the details. The athletes who are not linked to the scandal and never had a problem with WADA should continue training and competing and act as a role model for youth. “But those athletes who violated rules must bear the consequences.  You must make a clear distinction. Doping is a problem all over the world. That why we have to solve it together.” Isinbayeva remains a face of athletics thanks to her outgoing personality and a career with 28 world records, three world titles and Olympic golds 2004 in Athens and 2008 in Beijing. And the only woman to have cleared 5 metres insists she is not finished yet in her return to sport for a final year after giving birth to daughter Eva in June 2014. “My main goal is to show my full potential and to achieve as many world records as possible. I feel that I can do it,” she said, seemingly still aiming to match the 35 world records Sergey Bubka achieved on the men’s side. “2016 will be my last year in high performance sport. The highlight is the Olympics in Rio and hopefully a gold medal.” Her form remains to be seen as her last world record - 5.01m indoors - dates back to 2012 but she did manage to win the world title at the home event in Moscow 2013 although she was no longer the sky-high favourite. Isinbayeva did not rule out to take over an official function in a reformed Russian athletics federation after the end of her active career, and she is also engaged in a foundation she set up in 2013 to help children in need. During her pregnancy she was also the mayor of the athlete’s village of the 2014 Sochi Winter Games, naming it “one of the greatest experiences in my life. “I could speak with visitors from the whole world and got to learn their culture and opinions.” No wonder Isinbayeva aims to have one last Olympic experience next year as Brazil. “I hope that the Russian athletes will be admitted again and conpete together under the Russian flag in Brazil,” she said. “I am ready to compete for Russia in Rio.”