Yelena Isinbayeva, pole vault world record holder and double Olympic champion, is ‘tired’ of the pressure of expectations and is likely to retire after the London Olympics, Russia’s athletics team head coach said.
Isinbayeva set a new indoor world record of 5 metres 1 centimetre in Stockholm in February, her first record since 2009 following a spell marked by injury and poor form.
But at Friday’s Diamond League meet in Monaco she was a disappointment again, failing to clear the starting height of 4.70 meters.
“I think that after London she will probably finish her career,” Russia track and field athletics team head coach, Valentin Maslakov, told R-Sport. “She doesn’t suffer bad results easily.”
“She is not a regular athlete whose results can be ignored,” said Maslakov. “The whole country, the world community, and sponsors are watching her. This attention which is drawn to her affects the athlete too much. She is tired of it.”
Isinbayeva’s challengers for the 2012 Olympic pole vault title include Britain’s Holly Bleasdale.
Isinbayeva has said previously she will retire in 2013 after Moscow hosts the athletics world championships.
Her world outdoor record stands at 5 meters 6 centimeters, set in 2009.