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Biography, life story of Elena Gadzhievna Isinbayeva
Elena Gadzhievna Isinbaeva is an Olympic champion in pole vaulting. Multiple European and world champion. Has 28 world records. Honored Master of Sports of the Russian Federation.Childhood and youth
Elena was born in Volgograd on June 3, 1982. Gadzhi Gafanovich, her father, moved from Dagestan to Russia and worked as a plumber, her mother Natalya Petrovna was a boiler room worker and later took care of the house.
Elena's family lived quite modestly; her parents always supported Elena and her younger sister Inessa. Mom raised the girls strictly and dreamed of their sports career, since in her youth she herself played basketball.
At the age of 5, Elena began going to a sports school, where she studied gymnastics with the famous Lisov coaches. The future champion studied at the Olympic Reserve School, then she entered the Academy of Physical Culture in Volgograd without exams.
Isinbayeva received the rank of senior lieutenant and then captain. The girl was also awarded the rank of major. Isinbayeva has an agreement with the Ministry of Defense, so Elena is obliged to conduct training at a military school.
Career in sports
In 1997, the girl passed the standards and received the title of master of sports. But she was unable to continue her career in artistic gymnastics due to her too tall height, which is 174 cm. At that time, Isinbayeva’s coach watched the performance of track and field athletes with a pole and suggested Elena take up this sport. She agreed because she realized that she would not be able to become a successful gymnast, but the new role provided an opportunity to remain in the sport.
Changing a sport at the age of 15 is quite a risky endeavor, but the girl decided to do it and started working from scratch. She was trained by the famous trainer Evgeniy Trofimov. In 1998, the athlete performed at the World Youth Games and showed a jump result of 4 meters. A year later, Elena again participated in the games, where she jumped 4.10 meters, receiving her first gold and setting a record.
CONTINUED BELOW
A short time later, the athlete again received a gold medal at the junior games, breaking her own record. When the pole vault was added to the list of disciplines at the Olympic Games, Elena got the chance to take part in the most prestigious competition of the four years. But during the qualifications, Elena did not perform very well and did not make it to the finals of the games.
Over the course of several years, Elena Gadzhievna received a large number of medals. So, in 2001 she took gold at the European Championships, and a year later won a silver medal in Munich. In 2003, the girl set a world record.
In 2005, Elena was able to break her previous record and jump exactly 5 meters. Then the athlete admitted that such a height was intermediate for her, and she was capable of setting at least 36 world records. At the same time, the champion changed her coach, Vitaly Petrov became the new mentor.
Elena lived in Monaco for some time, where she set a record at the Super Grand Prix. Isinbayeva convincingly won the Olympics, setting a jump result of 5.5 meters.
In 2009, the athlete managed to set two records at once at competitions in Zurich and Donetsk. However, the World Championships in Berlin turned out to be a failure for the athlete; she failed to receive any awards. Isinbayeva did not hide her disappointment and sadness, declaring in an interview that she felt uncomfortable in front of the coach for her defeat.
In the spring of 2010, Isinbayeva failed to even get bronze at the competition in Doha; she was surpassed by her longtime competitor Svetlana Feofanova. After this failure, Isinbayeva wanted to pause her career.
In 2010, Elena returned to Volgograd to her mentor Trofimov. After a long break, the girl participated in the “Russian Winter” competition, where she unconditionally won. Then there was a series of both successful performances and completely fruitless struggles.
A few years later, the champion announced that she was going to end her career after participating in the World Athletics Championships. This decision was explained by the decline in the champion’s activity, the desire to have a child and start a family.
Doping scandal
Isinbayeva has been preparing for the 2016 Olympic Games for at least four years. Unfortunately, there was a scandal at the Games where Russian athletes were accused of doping, and the IOC decided to suspend the entire Russian athletics team from the competition.
The famous athlete expected to triumphantly end her professional career at the 2016 Olympics. Elena was not involved in the doping scandal, so she persistently challenged the unfair verdict of the IOC. Isinbayeva filed claims in many instances. On July 29, she was finally rejected by the International Association of Athletics Federations.
Private life
Isinbayeva never advertised her personal life. Elena and DJ Artem met in 2006 at a training camp in Donetsk. But after some time, the young people broke off the relationship.
Several times Elena stated that she dreams of having a child. Her dream came true in 2014, the girl gave birth to a daughter, Eva.
For the sake of the desire to become a mother, Isinbayeva gave up sports for some time and left for Monaco to escape prying eyes. It is known that Eva’s father is Nikita Petinov, an athlete whom Isinbaeva married in the winter of 2014.
- Name: Elena
- Surname: Isinbaeva
- Date of Birth: 03.06.1982
- Place of Birth: Volgograd
- Zodiac sign: Twins
- Eastern horoscope: Dog
- Occupation: athlete (pole vault)
- Height: 174 cm
- Weight: 55 kg
Yelena Isinbayeva- famous Russian athlete. Pole vaulting became a part of her life, her achievements and awards at various championships elevated her to the rank of great athletes of our time. Elena proved to the whole world that she has no equal in this discipline.
Photo by Elena Isinbaeva
Sports childhood and youth
Elena Isinbaeva’s hometown is Volgograd. His father, a native of Dagestan, Gadzhi Isinbaev, worked as a plumber, and his mother, Natalya Petrovna, worked in a boiler room. There were two girls in the family: Elena and her sister Inessa.
According to her mother, she raised her children in strictness and dreamed of a sports career for them. Therefore, at the insistence of her mother, at the age of 5, Elena was sent to the gymnastics section. 10 years of training and hard work have not passed without a trace, at the age of 15 she became a master of sports. But it so happened that the girl’s tall height became an obstacle to her gymnast’s career. Coach Alexander Lisovoy advised Isinbayeva to try her hand at athletics, namely pole vaulting. He recommended his colleague Evgeniy Trofimov to pay attention to the young athlete. So, At the age of 15, the gymnast switched to athletics and began to stubbornly and persistently move towards the Olympic podium. The apparent ease with which she now conquers incredible heights is, in fact, incredible work and daily exhausting training.
Elena Isinbaeva in childhood
After graduating from a lyceum with a technical focus, in 2000 the future famous jumper entered the Volgograd Academy of Physical Education. This was facilitated by her visit to the Olympic Reserve School.
First victories
Coach Evgeniy Trofimov turned gymnastics into a professional in the track and field discipline of pole vaulting. Sports training has become a good foundation for quickly mastering the basics of a new sport. Of course, at the age of 15, changing direction was risky, but the girl made every effort to become a famous track and field athlete.
In 1998, Isinbayeva won her first victory in the pole vault. The World Youth Games brought her a gold medal, and she also set her first world record by jumping 4 meters 10 centimeters. A year later she was conquered new peak of 4.4 meters at the World Championships among juniors. 2001 brought her a silver medal at the European Championships, where she was beaten by another Russian athlete, Svetlana Feofanova. Year after year, Isinbayeva competes in the most important world championships, and in 2003 she set a new record: jumping over the bar set at a height of 4 meters 82 centimeters at the British Grand Prix in Gateshead.
Olympic glory
In 2000, the women's pole vault discipline was included in the Olympic Games for the first time. But the first Olympics ended in failure. Elena failed to overcome the qualifying round. But for the 18-year-old athlete this was not critical; her career was just beginning.
Olympic gold 2004
Four years later, at the Olympics in Athens, Isinbayeva had truly great success. Years of training helped her become an Olympic champion and set a new world record. The fight for gold then began in earnest: the confrontation between two Russians, Isinbayeva and Feofanova, ended in Elena’s victory. Olympic gold helped the athlete become one of the most beloved and popular in her homeland.
In 2005, the athlete went under the leadership of Vitaly Petrov, who at one time coached the world-famous athlete Sergei Bubka. At the next 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Isinbayeva repeated her success. The gold award was again in the hands of the Russian athlete. Of course, there was a new world record: a height of 5.05 meters was conquered.
Elena prepares herself before the final jump at the 2008 Olympics
In 2012, the fourth Olympics for Elena Isinbayeva started. Competitions in London brought her a bronze medal, and the jumper herself stated that she wanted to temporarily leave the sport to devote herself to motherhood. However, the break did not last long and she set off to conquer new heights. She left her participation in the 2016 Olympics in doubt.
Victories and records in other competitions
In the inter-Olympic cycles, Elena Isinbaeva participated in almost all prestigious competitions on the planet.
- 2002 – “silver” at the European Championships;
- 2003 – bronze medal at the World Championships;
- 2005 – Grand Prix tournament “Atletissima 2005” and a new record of 4.93 cm;
- 2005 – track and field competition at the London Grand Prix, where Elena overcame a five-meter height;
- 2008 – participation in the Super Grand Prix series in Monaco, world record 5.04 m;
- 2011 – Stockholm Grand Prix, world indoor record 5.01 m;
- 2013 – “gold” at the World Athletics Championships in Moscow.
Of course, this is only part of the merits of the great athlete. To be fair, it must be said that not all sporting battles were successful. But Elena accepted failures with dignity and nobility. She did not make excuses after mistakes, but said that she would thoroughly analyze her mistakes. This makes fans even more respectful of the great athlete.
In 2007 and 2009, the World Academy of Sports Glory named the Russian jumper “The Best Athlete on the Planet.” In 2015, a contract was signed between the Russian Ministry of Defense and Elena Isinbayeva. The new position involves providing instruction in athletics at CSKA.
Doping scandal on the eve of the 2016 Olympics
The two-time Olympic champion’s desire to compete at her last Olympics in Rio, Brazil in 2016 was not destined to come true. And neither injuries, nor health, nor personal circumstances were to blame. The doping scandal that erupted on the eve of the Olympic Games became the reason for the International Olympic Committee to suspend the entire Russian track and field team from participation in the national team.
The famous jumper fought until the last for her right to participate in the main games of the four-year anniversary. Her reputation has always been high and she has never been involved in doping scandals. But the final decision of the International Association of Athletics Federations was not in her favor.
Two-time Olympic champion could not hold back her tears as she saw off the athletes in Rio
In August 2016, Elena Isinbaeva announced that she was leaving big-time sports.
Activities outside the stadium and personal life
Immersed in sports, Elena Isinbaeva always relegated her personal life to the background. But by the age of 30, family happiness still found the athlete. Her chosen one and the father of her daughter turned out to be Nikita Petinov, also an athlete who competes in the javelin throwing discipline. Elena initially hid her affair.
But the relationship between the couple turned out to be strong, and when she had a baby bump, there was no point in hiding. In 2014, Eva was born. The first time after the birth of her daughter, the athlete decided to live in Monaco, away from prying eyes. Now she is in her homeland and is engaged in social activities.
In 2014, Elena was appointed to the position of mayor of the Olympic Village.
Mayor of the Olympic Village with Vladimir Putin
After the doping scandal and ban on participation in the 2016 Olympics, Elena is often interviewed, and I invite her to TV shows so that she can share her opinion. Isinbayeva states that she will always fight for the rights of honest athletes. In August, by a general vote of Olympic participants, she was elected to the athletes’ commission of the International Olympic Committee. Now she remains in Russia to continue the fight for justice.
On the night of July 28-29, 2016, two-time Olympic champion in pole vaulting Yelena Isinbayeva posted the following on her Instagram page: “20 minutes ago I received a negative response from the IAAF Secretary. Unfortunately, no exception was made for me. I was not allowed to participate in the Olympic Games in Rio. No miracle happened. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT, THANK YOU SO MUCH! It’s not my destiny to perform in Rio!”
The athlete’s personal appeal to the IAAF leadership was Isinbayeva’s last attempt to achieve participation in the 2016 Olympics. Previously, Russian track and field athletes were rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which clarified, however, that the International Olympic Committee has the right to admit athletes according to its decision. The IOC, however, chose not to intervene in the situation. A personal appeal to the IAAF leadership by Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko did not help either.34-year-old Elena Isinbaeva did not hide the fact that she returned to professional sports in order to try to win a third Olympic gold in Rio 2016. Apparently, the Russian woman will not be a three-time Olympic champion. By the 2020 Games, Isinbayeva will be 38 years old - and she categorically rejects the possibility of her participation in the Olympics in another four years.
This means that the Russian woman’s brightest sports career has come to an end. AiF.ru remembered the most important moments in the sports biography of Elena Isinbaeva.
First gold - at the World Youth Games in Moscow
From the age of five, Elena was engaged in artistic gymnastics, but at 15 she was given a verdict - “unpromising.” Coach Isinbayeva Alexander Lisovoy, worried about the future fate of her ward, I once saw a women’s pole vault competition on TV. This type of athletics was just gaining popularity in the 1990s.
Lisovoy took Elena to the athletics coach Evgeniy Trofimov, believing that the girl might have good prospects in a new form.Lisovoy was not mistaken - just six months later, Elena Isinbaeva won the World Youth Games in Moscow, clearing a height of 4.00 m. In 1999, the aspiring athlete won the World Youth Championship with a world record in her age category - 4.10 m.
The first Olympics ended in failure
At the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, medals were played for the first time in women's pole vaulting. 18-year-old Isinbayeva was spoken of as a rising star. On the eve of the Olympics, the Russian woman won the World Junior Championships with a new world record in the age category - 4.20 m.
Elena Isinbaeva performing at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Photo: RIA Novosti / Sergey Guneev
However, there was an embarrassment in Sydney. Isinbayeva, who was not expected to win, but was expected to perform decently, did not achieve a single qualifying score and did not make it to the finals. The athlete herself explained this by the fact that her coach was not present at the competition. Evgeny Trofimov was not included in the official delegation of the Russian team, and he went to Australia as a tourist. As a result, he got to the stadium only half an hour after everything was over for his ward.
The first world record and the “Olympic duel” with Svetlana Feofanova
The next time for Isinbayeva was a time of fierce pursuit of the leaders of the women's pole. In 2002, a young Russian woman challenges the leader of the Russian team at the European Championships Svetlana Feofanova. With a result of 4.55 m, Isinbayeva remains second.
On July 13, 2003, at the British Grand Prix in Gateshead, Elena Isinbaeva set her first world record among adults - 4.82 m.
At the 2003 World Athletics Championships in Paris, Isinbayeva was already considered a favorite, but became only a bronze medalist, losing to Svetlana Feofanova and the German Annike Becker.
Svetlana Feofanova. Photo: RIA Novosti / Anton Denisov
The highlight of the 2004 Olympics in Athens was the duel between Feofanova and Isinbayeva. On the eve of the Games, they took turns breaking world records and approached the main start in brilliant shape.
It was a fantastic fight. Feofanova took the height of 4.70 m, and Isinbayeva, having knocked down the bar, moved the remaining two attempts to the line of 4.75 m. But here too, Feofanova took the height, and Isinbayeva was met with failure. And then Elena transfers her last attempt to a height of 4.80 m.
Perhaps this was a key moment not only in this duel, but in Isinbayeva’s entire career. With great difficulty, Elena still took 4.80 m. Feofanova tried to transfer her attempts to 4.85 m, but was unsuccessful. Isinbayeva, already in the rank of Olympic champion, set a new world record - 4.91 m.
5.00m jump and second Olympic gold
On July 22, 2005, at a competition in London, Elena Isinbaeva achieved a height of 5.00 m for the first time in the history of women’s pole vaulting. The athlete began to be called “Bubka in a Skirt” - the legendary Soviet pole vaulter was the first among men to overcome the mark of 6.00 m.
Isinbayeva has never had a simple character. In 2005, she unexpectedly left coach Evgeniy Trofimov for Vitaly Petrov, former mentor of the legendary Sergei Bubka. The departure was controversial; Trofimov and Isinbayeva then did not communicate with each other for a long time.
The period 2005-2008 can be considered “golden” in the Russian woman’s career. In fact, Isinbayeva competed with herself, setting more and more new world records. Rare defeats occurred not because of her rivals, but only through the fault of the Russian woman herself, who suddenly suffered inexplicable breakdowns.
During this period, Isinbayeva won the indoor world championships three times and outdoors twice.
On August 18, 2008, at the Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing, Elena Isinbaeva becomes a two-time Olympic champion. She simply does not notice her rivals - she takes 4.70 m with her first jump, makes her second jump at 4.85 m, and this is already enough for victory. Then Isinbayeva fights with herself: first, on the third attempt, she breaks the Olympic record, jumping 4.95 m, and then similarly sets a new world record - 5.05 m.
Career break and return to first coach
In 2009, Isinbayeva’s performances became “ragged” - new world records alternated with outright failures. At the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, the athlete did not achieve a single height. In an interview, Isinbayeva talks about fatigue and loss of concentration. However, on August 28, 2009, at the fifth stage of the Golden League in Zurich, the jumper set her 27th career world record - 5.06 m.
But in April 2010, at the World Indoor Championships in Doha, Isinbayeva did not make it into the top three and announced an indefinite suspension of her career.
Elena Isinbaeva and Evgeny Trofimov. Photo: RIA Novosti / Maxim Bogodvid
In 2011, a new sensation - Isinbayeva returns to Evgeny Trofimov. In February 2011, at the first competition after the break, the Russian woman won with the best result of the season in the world - 4.81 m.
Isinbayeva declares her main goal to be winning a third Olympic gold. On February 23, 2012, at the Stockholm Grand Prix, the Russian woman set a new world indoor record - 5.01 m. This achievement was the 28th, and currently the last, in Isinbayeva’s career.
Failure at the 2012 Olympics: bronze instead of gold
At the 2012 Games in London, Isinbayeva was considered not just the main favorite in the pole vault. The athlete was considered the brightest star of the Russian national team and her gold medal was considered almost guaranteed.
Elena found herself under incredible pressure from the expectations of others, which played a cruel joke on her. On August 6, 2012, the day of the pole vault tournament, the weather in London was rainy and cold, which made the randomness factor extremely high. In such conditions, the one who has luck on his side wins.
It was not Isinbayeva's day. To begin with, she failed the first jump at a height of 4.55 m. Then, pulling herself together, she moved the attempt to 4.65 m, easily coping with the task. The height of 4.70 m was also confidently taken.
That was the end of it. Having knocked down the bar twice at a height of 4.75 m, Elena made her last attempt at 4.80 m, but failed to repeat the plot of eight years ago. As a result, Isinbayeva finished third with a jump of 4.70 m.
Victorious retirement from sports at the World Championships in Moscow
After the 2012 Olympics, Elena Isinbaeva announced that she intended to retire after the 2013 World Athletics Championships in Moscow. True, the athlete made a reservation, allowing for the possibility of another return to big-time sports after the birth of her child.
On August 13, 2013, at Luzhniki, Isinbayeva was determined to take revenge on the American champion and vice-champion of the 2012 Olympics in front of her fans. Jennifer Suhr and Cubans Yarisley Silva.The height of 4.75 m, which became Sur's victory in London, was achieved by the American and Isinbayeva on the first attempt, Silva managed the second. At a height of 4.82 m, Sur and the Russian took the bar on the second attempt, the Cuban cleared it on the third.
Everything was decided at a height of 4.89 m. Isinbaeva overcame it on the first try, after which both rivals were unable to repeat this success. The Russian woman, already in the status of world champion, tried to break the world record three times, reaching a height of 5.07 m, but failed.
Returning for the Olympic Rio
On February 12, 2015, Elena Isinbaeva announced the resumption of her sports career. The Russian woman said that her goal is to win the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Skeptics expressed doubts that the Russian woman would be able to once again rise to the level of the world's leading athletes. However, the real barrier on Isinbayeva’s path was the disqualification of the All-Russian Athletics Federation due to a doping scandal. Along with other track and field athletes from Russia, Isinbayeva was prohibited from competing in international competitions.
Until recently, Isinbayeva hoped that the ban would be lifted in relation to “clean” athletes - the name of the jumper was never mentioned in connection with doping.But all appeals, requests, and appearances at the Court of Arbitration for Sport were unsuccessful - Elena Isinbaeva was denied the right to compete at the Olympics.
On June 21, 2016, at the Russian Championships in Cheboksary, Elena Isinbaeva entered the jumping sector for the last time in official competitions. The two-time Olympic champion won gold with a jump of 4.90m, a season's best in the world.
After this, even skeptics admitted that 34-year-old Isinbayeva could fight for victory in Rio.
Elena Isinbaeva is one of the most titled and famous athletes of our time. Her specialty is pole vaulting. Elena has two golds and one bronze from the Olympic Games. Isinbayeva repeatedly became the world and European champion with record results, and was recognized as the best athlete in 2007 and 2009.
Her career is a continuous struggle with obstacles, overcoming the impossible, an incredible will to win and a craving for justice. Until now, no one in the world can break one of the records set by our famous athlete. The biography of Elena Isinbaeva, personal life, and children will be discussed in the article. And also about what the athlete had to go through to become truly legendary.
Brief biography of Elena Isinbaeva in her childhood
The future athlete was born in early June 1982. Her parents are simple people who had working professions. My father is from Dagestan, he worked as a plumber, he is from Tabasaran by nationality. The biography of Elena Isinbaeva began in Volgograd, where her father moved before starting his family. The athlete’s mother, Natalya, was Russian and worked in the boiler room. Lena and her sister Inna were raised by their parents in strictness. Both girls were interested in sports as children. Their mother sent them to gymnastics classes at one of the local children's and youth sports schools. Natalya herself played basketball in her youth, but was unable to connect her career with big-time sports. She was not accepted into the Institute of Physical Education.
Lena was 5 years old when she first attended classes. Sister Inna soon abandoned training. Now she is far from sports, married to a famous circus acrobat, and lives with her family in America.
Youth
At the age of seven, Lena went to study at a lyceum, where classes were formed in a technical direction. After 3 years, the parents sent their daughter to the gymnastics section with coach Alexander Lisovoy. At first he did not see potential in the skinny girl. But in terms of flexibility and grace, she had no equal.
After graduating from the Youth Sports School, Lena was taken to an Olympic reserve school, from which, however, after some time she was kicked out due to “no prospects.” It would seem that this could be the end of the biography of athlete Elena Isinbaeva. But Lisovoy came to the rescue.
Pole vaulting
Alexander accidentally saw the performances of track and field athletes with poles on TV. He immediately thought about Isinbayeva - after all, her height and athletic physique were quite suitable for this sport. Lisova made an agreement with pole vault coach Evgeniy Trofimov, who agreed that he would look at the abilities of 15-year-old Lena.
Many years later, Isinbayeva will thank Alexander Lisovoy by purchasing a three-room apartment in an elite area and admits that it was he who made her into who she is now. And her debt to him is much greater than just buying a home.
Start of a sports career
Since 1998, the formation of the sports biography of Elena Isinbaeva began. Personally, under the mentorship of Trofimov himself, the girl practiced jumping until 2013 with short breaks.
The first significant victory for the young athlete was the championship at the World Youth Games, which were held in Moscow. Then, as a sixteen-year-old girl, Lena jumped 4 meters in height. A year later, Isinbayeva became the first among juniors at the World Championships held in Seville. The initial result was exceeded by 10 centimeters and turned out to be a world record.
With the advent of the millennium, Elena took part in the second world championship. Here she surpassed not only her rivals, but also herself, breaking the previous record. In 2000, the pole vault discipline was included in the Olympic program. What has become a real window to Europe, opening up new opportunities for athletes.
Records after records
A year later, participating in the European Junior Championships, the athlete beat all her competitors with a record of 4.40. And in the same season, as part of the ISTAF international festival, Elena left no chance for anyone to catch up with the new figure - 4.46 meters. The German Silka Spiegelburg was able to break her record by two centimeters only in 2005.
For the first time, people started talking about Elena Isinbayeva as a great athlete after the 2004 Olympic Games, held in Athens. At the pole vault competition, the girl set a world record, and even surpassed herself - 4.91 m. She deservedly won the gold medal.
New season
A year after her triumphant victory at the Olympics, Elena signed a contract with coach Vitaly Petrov. It is known that he was once the mentor of the legendary Soviet track and field athlete Sergei Bubka. The great athlete at some point even acted as a consultant to Elena. Thanks to him, she developed her own tactics. Of the three jumps, I divided each into three types: warm-up, victory and record. For each stage I chose poles of different heights.
Isinbaeva conquered the five-meter height in July 2005. At a press conference, she told the whole world that this is not the limit, but only the norm. A month later, at a competition in Helsinki, she proved that she was not throwing words into the wind - the record was increased by 1 centimeter.
Beijing Olympics and the bitterness of losses
Elena approached the 2008 Olympic Games fully armed and again with a record of 5.04 meters. And at the competitions themselves, the athlete raised the bar by 1 centimeter and again became unattainable for her competitors.
A year later, troubles began - at the World Championships held in Berlin, Elena failed all her attempts. In comments to reporters, she said that she fell in love and was mentally distracted. Sports analysts stated that Isinbayeva had no one to compete with, the World Championship was uninteresting for her.
An annoying nuisance spurred the athlete to new achievements. She made certain conclusions and began to train more than before. But taking new heights was not so easy. At the new World Indoor Championships, Isinbayeva again failed miserably. The athlete announced a career break.
Olympic cycle - 2012
Before heading to London for the Games, Elena set a new indoor pole vault record of 5.01. Great expectations were placed on her, but she could not live up to them. Isinbayeva rose to the podium, but only with the third result. However, given the extremely unsuccessful last three years, Elena called her third place a very good result.
During the same period, the desire to leave big sport came, especially since the 30-year-old girl was thinking about her personal life, husband and children. Elena Isinbaeva’s biography in sports was very successful, but in private life, not so much. And she decided to wait - she announced a break.
2016 Olympics scandal. Completion of a sports career
After giving birth in 2015, Isinbayeva decided to return to sports, but at the same time emphasized that the Olympic Games would be her last. However, it was not possible to leave gracefully. All Russian track and field athletes were suspended from participation in the world championship. A real scandal occurred - the anti-doping association did not want to allow Russian athletes to compete.
Neither lengthy legal proceedings nor appeals to the International Athletics Association brought any results. In mid-August 2016, Elena ended her career, declaring that the athlete who takes first place in the pole vault will only be second for her at the 2016 Olympic Games.
Personal biography of Elena Isinbaeva
The athlete always admitted that she grew up in a simple working-class family. And she herself was never arrogant or suffering from star fever. You can easily approach her on the street and chat, she is open to her fans, never refuses to take photographs, and is happy to sign autographs.
After the first Olympics, Elena became a regular on various television shows, she was invited to photo shoots, and the athlete appeared many times on the covers of glossy magazines and not only in sports columns. Gradually the girl turned into a real lady. No wonder her fans nicknamed her “the queen.”
Many men sought her affection, and Elena herself fell in love with a young man who is 8 years younger than her, the athlete Nikita Petinov. The young man is also from Volgograd, also a track and field athlete.
The young people met in their hometown. However, they did not immediately realize that they were made for each other. At some point, Elena was training in Monaco, so it was not possible to meet her lover - communication was indirect. Their relationship grew into a serious stage in 2011, when the girl returned to her hometown. Their romance became known to the public only when the athlete became pregnant.
The birth took place in Monaco, where Isinbayeva once lived and trained. Young parents gave birth to a girl, Eva, at the end of June 2014. And in the winter, her parents decided to have a wedding. They didn’t try to be original – they celebrated in their native Volgograd. There were few guests, the celebration itself took place in a modest atmosphere. The newlyweds did not want to attract public attention.
At the age of three, little Eva first appeared in public. Elena took her daughter with her to the All-Russian athletics competition.
In August 2017, a tragedy occurred in the Isinbayev family - Elena’s mother died. At this time, the athlete was already pregnant. Isinbayeva gave birth to her second baby, a boy, in mid-February 2018.
There is not and has never been a more significant track and field athlete in the current century than Elena Isinbayeva. Her career is the envy of many - two-time Olympic champion, seven-time world champion, record holder for everything.
Isinbaeva Elena Gadzhievna
Born 06/03/1982
Achievements:
- Olympic champion 2004, 2008.
- Bronze medalist at the 2012 Olympic Games.
- World champion 2005, 2007, 2013.
- Bronze medalist at the 2003 World Championships.
- World indoor champion 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012.
- European champion 2006.
- Silver medalist at the 2002 European Championship.
- European indoor champion 2005.
- The current world record holder in the pole vault is 5.06 m.
Change of profile, first successes
This is probably a sign from above that they decided to expel Elena from the artistic gymnastics section due to her lack of promise. By that time, Isinbayeva was already fifteen years old - the defining age in this sport. Lena reached over 170 cm, which meant one thing - she was not destined to reach a serious gymnastic level.
There would be no happiness, but misfortune would help - this is about Isinbayeva. Her coach, realizing that with such parameters she could not become a gymnastics star, decided to show his student to pole vault specialist Evgeniy Trofimov. He agreed and began working with his new ward.
Evgeniy Vasilyevich quickly realized what talent fell into his hands and began polishing it. In turn, Isinbayeva quickly warmed to the new type of activity and soon began to please her mentor. Literally six months after the start of jumping training, Elena won the World Youth Games in Moscow with a score of 4 meters.
From this moment on, Isinbayeva begins to collect an impressive collection of victories. First, she conquers the world championship among youths, then she becomes a triumphant world championship among juniors, simultaneously setting records in the corresponding age groups.
By the age of eighteen, Elena gets into the adult Russian national team and goes to the Olympics in Sydney. True, the first Olympic pancake comes out lumpy - Isinbayeva was unable to overcome the qualification barrier. But this failure does not stop the young athlete - Elena continues to win competitions at the junior level and improve her own records.
Queen of Athletics
Isinbayeva achieved the greatest progress in 2002-2003. At twenty years old, she becomes second at the adult European Championship, flying 4.5 m. After that, her results grow from start to start, and a year later Isinbayeva becomes the owner of the world record - 4.82 m.
From now on, Lena is the favorite in any competition, but forecasts are forecasts, and competitions put everything in its place. So, being in excellent shape, she failed to win the 2003 World Championship - only bronze. However, it’s too early to be upset, because in a year there will be the Olympic Games.
Isinbayeva approached them in excellent condition, all summer improving her records, which, naturally, were also world records. In Athens, Elena had a long-awaited triumph, but it was not easy for her. Isinbayeva was literally one step away from defeat, having missed her attempts at 4.7 and 4.75 m. There was no point in repeating the third attempt - our other jumper Svetlana Feofanova achieved the same height. Isinbayeva came only for gold, so she decided to take a risk. She ordered 4.8 m and coped with this height. And already in the rank of Olympic champion, she set out to break the world record - from now on it is 4.91 m.
Elena Isinbaeva - 2004 Olympic champion After this performance, Isinbayeva became a world sports star. Experts analyzed her technique in detail, and correspondents from all over the world did not stop trying to interview her. Elena rightly basked in the glory - she liked the star role.
However, her busy non-sports life did not interfere with her main activity. The next year, 2005, went down in history. Isinbayeva continued to increase the world record bar and became the first woman to jump 5 meters. And less than a month after the historic event, she finally won the senior world championship, increasing her highest achievement by another 1 cm.
Isinbayeva was nicknamed “Bubka in a Skirt” - like Sergei, Elena became a person who changed her sport. Moreover, Isinbayeva became the queen of athletics, which in turn is considered the queen of sports. Of course, such a status involuntarily changes a person - many begin to develop symptoms of star fever.
This blues did not bypass Isinbayeva, who scandalously broke up with her coach and moved to another specialist - Vitaly Petrov. For several years we had to forget about records; developing new technology is a painstaking task. Nevertheless, the victories came one after another: the World Championship, the European Championship - Isinbayeva had no equal.
By the summer of 2008, Elena again, as before the Athens Olympics, was in perfect condition. A few weeks before Beijing, she updated the record, and at the main start of the four-year anniversary, she increased it by another 1 cm - 5.05 m. This was the peak of Isinbayeva’s career - absolutely deserved praises rained down on her from all sides.
Elena Isinbaeva - 2008 Olympic champion with a world record of 5.05 m From heaven to earth
It’s hard to be at the top, and at the height where Isinbayeva climbed, it’s doubly hard. Despite the fact that Elena’s popularity has reached an incredible level, and the number of her fans around the world has reached millions, Isinbayeva is gaining many ill-wishers.
Of course, winners and great people themselves irritate many - the success of others is difficult to accept; but Elena herself adds fuel to the fire - with her behavior in the sector, when she does not notice anyone around, as well as with uncompromising statements in the media. In fact, Isinbayeva isolated herself from everyone - by results, waywardness, luxurious life (by that time she had settled in Monaco).
But all this takes place and is perceived positively when there is a result. For the time being, while Isinbayeva was invincible, no one paid attention to such things, but as soon as Lena failed at the 2009 World Championships, the tone of statements regarding her person changed.
Of course, her failure at the world forum was shocking, Isinbayeva’s level was so high, and there was no doubt about our athlete’s nervous system. However, she let Elena down - otherwise Isinbayeva would not have been able to update her highest achievement literally a week later at the Golden League stage.
The emotional background is a big deal, especially at this level. Perhaps Elena herself was too relaxed, believing in her own indestructibility, perhaps she was unsettled by the troubles in her personal life. But, most likely, Isinbayeva was overtaken by retribution for the arrogance that appeared.
It got to the point that in 2010 she took a break from her career altogether - she was prompted to do this by failure at the World Indoor Championships. Apparently, then something changed in Elena’s mind, and she decides to turn her sports life around by returning to her first coach.
Repentance
Evgeniy Trofimov is a wise coach and person; Not everyone in his place would agree to step into the same river twice. But he believed in Isinbayeva at a time when many turned their backs on her. Each defeat of Elena caused delight among her rivals, and even among some representatives of the press.
Of course, Isinbayeva repented - otherwise Trofimov would not have accepted Elena back. The tone of Isinbayeva’s statements in various interviews has also changed. It became obvious that she herself understood everything - not a trace remained of her former pride. Now all that remained was to return the result, and with this things were much more difficult.
Despite the vigorous start to the 2011 season, Isinbayeva remains without a medal at the World Championships. As Evgeniy Vasilyevich would later say, Elena lost her former equipment. There was a year left for her return - Olympic London loomed on the horizon.
By that time, Elena was still able to recover from a series of failures and in the winter she set a world indoor record. She approached the Olympics, just like four and eight years ago, as a favorite. But this time not unconditionally, but hidden. Alas, Isinbayeva could not reach her third Olympic gold, winning a bronze medal.
Despite only third place, Elena was happy - she returned to the elite after a series of failures, and positive attitude from the public returned to her. The most important thing is that she was understood and forgiven in Russia; It was enough to admit her mistakes, which is what Isinbayeva did.
Elena Isinbaeva - 2013 world champion What was happening in Moscow in August 2013! Elena wins the World Championship and again becomes a national hero. Moreover, she is on the same wavelength with ordinary people, celebrating her victory in various clubs in the capital. Her simplicity and sincerity add to her popularity - immediately after the competition, Isinbayeva announced that she plans to have a child, but does not rule out her return to sports for the sake of the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The fight for Rio 2016
Fortunately, everything worked out for Elena’s personal life - she got married and gave birth to a girl. In parallel with household chores, Isinbayeva carries out important social and sports activities, as if trying on life after the end of her sports career in 2016.
Isinbayeva announces her intention to prepare for the Olympics a year and a half before it starts. Step by step, workout by workout - essentially starting all over again, Elena finds the right technique and finds herself. But she was not destined to enter the Olympic sector again - the International Association of Athletics Federations completely suspended the Russian team from participating in competitions.
It’s all because of the doping scandals that have been recorded and continue to swirl around our athletes. Unfortunately, the principle of the presumption of innocence did not work here - the entire team suffered, although Isinbayeva was above suspicion throughout her entire career.
Elena fought for her rights, submitted an individual application for the right to participate in the Olympic Games, but all in vain - the IOC and IAAF were adamant. The apotheosis of Isinbayeva’s unfulfilled hopes was her speech in the Kremlin at the meeting of Russian Olympians with Vladimir Putin.
Nevertheless, Elena still went to Brazil to win on a different – near-sports – plane. Isinbayeva was elected a member of the International Olympic Committee, recognizing her greatness and contribution to the popularization of sports.
There is no doubt that Isinbayeva will prove herself in the socio-political field, as in any other matter, no matter what she does; After sports, everything else is trivial.
You can treat Isinbayeva in different ways: adore her or hate her, praise her to the skies or try to develop the negative aspects of her biography. One thing is clear - it will definitely not work to be indifferent to a person like Elena Isinbaeva, and this, whatever one may say, is an unconditional and absolutely deserved success.
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