Isinbayeva dreams of new pole vault world record in Rio

Isinbayeva dreams of new pole vault world record in Rio

MOSCOW - Russian pole vault star Yelena Isinbayeva said Thursday she has been dreaming about setting a new world record at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Yelena Isinbayeva won pole vault gold medals at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and at the 2008 Beijing Games

"I want it so much (to beat the world record at Rio)," the 32-year-old two-time Olympic champion told a news conference.

"The Olympics is a very special event for me. And I believe that with a strong will and desire anything is possible."

Isinbayeva, who won gold medals at 2004 Games at Athens and at 2008 Olympics at Beijing, added that she will resume her career only if she is sure she has a chance of winning for a third time in Rio.

"I hope at the end of this year I will be able to decide whether I'm ready to compete for the gold medal at the 2016 Olympics," she said.

"I'll need some time to finalise my decision. But if my old injuries prevent me from obtaining my top form I'll quit.

Isinbayeva, who has set 28 world records during her career, announced her retirement after winning the 2013 IAAF world chamionships in Moscow to give birth to her daughter in June.

She previously took a year off following her failure at the 2010 indoor athletics world championships in Doha.

Isinbayeva then returned to competition in February 2011 to win the bronze medal at London Olympics with 4.70m. Her exisiting pole vault record of 5.06 metres was set in Zurich in 2009.

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