Elena Isinbaeva: “I never even thought of offending my native Volgograd. Elena Isinbaeva: “My main rival is myself

Russian athlete, pole vault champion, Honored Master of Sports of Russia, two-time Olympic champion (2004 and 2008).

Elena Gadzhieva Isinbaeva born in the summer of 1982 in Volgograd in the family of a plumber Gadzhi Isinbayev and housewife Natalya Isinbayeva. Elena's paternal relatives live in Dagestan. In 1997, the girl graduated from an engineering and technical lyceum, and in 2005 she received a diploma as a teacher of physical education at the Volgograd State Academy of Physical Culture and Sports.

“My parents did everything they could for my sister and me. They worked honestly and were not to blame for the fact that my classmates were well dressed and made up, and I wore my mother’s clothes. But I understood the meaning of the word “must” much faster than my peers.

Sports career of Elena Isinbaeva

In 1987, her parents sent Elena and her younger sister Inessa to a sports school, and ten years later Elena became a master of sports in rhythmic gymnastics. When the girl was fifteen years old, she was expelled from the Olympic Reserve School, being considered an unpromising athlete. Coach Alexander Lisovoy decided to demonstrate the success of his ward to his colleague, the track and field coach Evgeniy Trofimov. So Isinbaeva switched from rhythmic gymnastics to pole vaulting.

Thanks to perseverance and self-confidence, Elena Isinbaeva won the World Youth Games just six months after being expelled from school. In 1999, the athlete became the world champion among juniors, reaching a height of 4.1 meters.

Two years later, she broke her own record by 0.3 meters and joined the Russian women's pole vault team.

In 2001, during competitions at the International Festival in Berlin, she conquered the world record among juniors - 4.46 meters. At the European Championships, Isinbayeva lost first place to another Russian athlete, Svetlana Feofanova.

– Arrogant and dismissive looks, manners – I defiantly do not notice my rivals in the sector, for me they do not exist. Outside the stadium I can say hello and talk. Never at the stadium. A strong person will endure it, a weak person will break. So far everything is mostly broken.

In 2003, she managed to get a gold medal at the European Championships and only a bronze medal at the World Championships.

In 2004, the Olympics were held in Athens, where Elena Isinbaeva became the pole vault champion, after which she decided to change her coach. He became Vitaly Petrov. According to the athlete, she needed new motivation for victories, and Trofimov gave her everything he could give. However, the coach himself turned out to be not so correct and stated that Isinbayeva simply ran away from him to the competition in Monaco.

– We must pay tribute to my first coach Evgeniy Vasilyevich Trofimov. He and I achieved Olympic medals and multiple records. He is unique in his own way. And Petrov is unique in that he works with adult athletes - those who are much heavier in character. You can yell at a child, but this system no longer works with adults. He is my friend, father, and coach. He can be both strict and soft. For example, I come to training, the mood is zero. I’ll say: “Vitaly Afanasyevich, I can’t train today.” He will answer: “Well, let’s go to the sea.” We'll go to the beach, sit and talk about life. And the next day he will demand double returns from me. Such coaches are born very rarely, and I believe the main thing in them is patience. Giving up or losing faith is not about Vitaly Afanasyevich. When I feel bad, he will come up and say: “Lena, I believe in you. Everything will be fine". In my opinion, great people have such qualities.

In the summer of 2008, at one of the stages of the Super Grand Prix in Monaco, Elena Isinbaeva set a new world record - 5.04 meters. According to her, her home stadium helped her win. By this time she had already lived in Monaco for a long time.

In August 2008, the athlete won the Beijing Olympics, clearing a height of 5.05 meters. She was going for bronze, and the last jump was to decide her fate. Overnight, Elena decided to overcome the 4.8-meter bar. Thanks to this, Isinbayeva received a gold medal.

– Once the decision is made, I don’t think about it anymore! I always go forward! And when I jumped 4.80, I realized that I would become an Olympic champion. I caught the courage, the energy of the spectators sitting in the stadium, the energy of my parents, my sister, everyone who loves me... It was to them that I gave my performance!.. I almost always show the best results in courage. And that evening everything came together just perfectly. An ideal girl in ideal conditions – it turned out beautifully, didn’t it?

In the winter of 2009, at the international tournament “Zepter – Pole Stars”, the champion again conquered two world records and won the title of the best athlete on the planet according to the Laureus World Academy of Sports Glory.

However, in 2009, luck turned away from Elena Isinbayeva - she could not win the final of the World Athletics Championships in Berlin. In the spring of 2010, she took a break from her career and returned to competition only a year later.

In the winter of 2011, she won the Russian Winter tournament, but at the World Championships in South Korea she took only sixth place.

According to her coach, the girl is hampered by mental problems, plus a stormy personal life that does not allow her to concentrate on her sporting achievements.
Vitaly Petrov also stated that Isinbayeva devotes too much effort and time to participating in advertising campaigns.

- I understand her. The path to the top is not just about winning medals. This includes strengthening your financial condition and position in society. It is almost impossible for an ordinary person to earn money for an apartment in such a short period of time. And Lena, thanks to her performances, can afford this. Sport for her is a path to another life, and I cannot turn a blind eye to it. Only through sports can Lena earn her place in the sun.

In 2016, the athlete was unable to take part in the Olympic Games in Brazil due to a doping scandal. More than 60 athletes were denied entry to the competition.

Yelena Isinbayeva:

“My victory in Cheboksary remains the best result of the season in the world to this day. What I could give to the world in Rio, what heights, what emotions, will remain a mystery... And for me too... I want to burst into tears...”

Elena Isinbaeva Personal life

Elena dated for a long time with an athlete, a member of the Russian national javelin throwing team, Nikita Petinov. In the summer of 2014, she gave birth to a daughter, Eva, from him. In December, the couple decided to formalize the relationship.

Soon after the birth of her girl, she resumed training.

In addition, at different times the athlete starred in the programs “ Evening Urgant", "Minute of Fame", etc. She is an official of the Match TV channel and has starred in several commercials.

The name Elena Isinbayeva is familiar to many, even those who are far from sports. She is a representative of that category of people of whom the whole country is proud. Elena Gadzhievna Isinbaeva was born on June 3, 1982 in the city of Volgograd into the family of a plumber and a housewife. Since childhood, parents encouraged Elena and her sister Inessa to play sports.

At the age of 5, Elena began practicing rhythmic gymnastics under the guidance of the honored coaches of the Lisovs, but at the age of 15 she had to give up this sport due to her height being too tall for this sport (174 cm). In 1997, Elena became a master of sports in gymnastics, but then Alexander Lisovoy invited her to practice pole vaulting. In 1998, Elena began her performances at international competitions with a jump of 4 m, and in 1999 she set her first record with a result of 4.10 m and received her first gold medal at the World Youth Games.

In 2000-2002, Elena performed at the European Championships in Munich and the Berlin International Festival, winning silver and gold, respectively. In 2003, she set a world record of 4.82 m, in 2005 - 5 m, and in 2008 - 5.05 m. By this time, Elena Isinbaeva became a two-time Olympic champion in 2004 and 2008. , two-time world champion in 2005 and 2007 and winner of many other competitions.

2009 and the beginning of 2010 were not the best for the athlete: due to an unsuccessful performance at the World Championships in Berlin and competitions in Doha, she decided to leave the sport for a while. After returning, she won a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympic Games and a gold medal at the World Championships in 2013. That same year, the athlete announced her desire to retire from sports and devote herself to her family. In 2014

Elena became a mother for the first time, giving birth to her daughter Eva, and is now expecting her second child. That same year she got married. On February 12, 2015, she announced her decision to resume her sports career and compete at the Olympic Games in 2016. Elena was unable to compete in Rio due to the suspension of the Russian athletics team after a doping scandal. Elena appealed, but the IOC decision was final. On August 19, 2016, Elena announced her retirement from her sports career.

For children

Biography of Elena Isinbayeva about the main thing

Elena Gadzhievna Isinbaeva was born on June 3, 1982 in the city of Volgograd. Father - Gadzhi Gafanovich Isinbaev, a plumber, mother - Natalya Petrovna Isinbaeva, a housewife. Elena had a standard Soviet childhood, the family did not live well, but this did not greatly affect either Elena herself or her sister Inessa. Elena’s passion for sports was echoed by her mother, since in her youth she herself dreamed of a sports career and even tried in vain to enter a sports institute.

At the age of 5, in 1987, Isinbayeva entered a sports school, where she began to engage in artistic gymnastics. The training was led by Alexander Lisovoy and his wife Marina, honored trainers of Russia. After 2 years, Elena enters the lyceum with a technical focus. She studied there until 1997. The following year, Elena enters the Olympic Reserve School, where she studies for 2 years. The transition to pole training becomes a pure coincidence for Elena, and after just six months of training, Isinbayeva won the World Youth Games held in Moscow. The following year, Elena competes at the World Junior Championship and wins again, improving her last year’s result by 10 centimeters. The next championship is not on such a high note for her, and as a result, only 5th place at the European Junior Championship.

The year 2000 begins for young Elena with another victory at the junior championship, and again she improves on her previous result, setting a world record among juniors. Then Isinbayeva participates in the Sydney Olympics, where, however, she does not qualify for the finals, having failed all qualifying jumps. A year later, Elena returns to the European Junior Championship and, avenging her previous defeat, takes gold, once again improving her result. 2001 turned out to be an excellent year for the career of the young athlete and at the end she set a new world record among juniors, which she managed to break only after 4 long years.

In 2002, the future athlete entered the local physical education university, after which she received a teaching diploma. In 2003, Elena takes part in the European Indoor Championship and the annual Sainsbury's Grand Prix competition in Great Britain, both tournaments end in victory and new records. In the same year, she takes part in the next World Athletics Championship, but the results turn out to be extremely mediocre and how result – 3rd place.

In 2004 he took gold at the World Indoor Championship, and a year later he achieved the same result at the next European Indoor Championship. 2006 and again 2 gold medals, this time for the World Indoor Championship and European Championship. Next year and new gold – World Championship in Osaka. The year 2008 takes on 3 significant events:

• Another victory at the World Indoor Championships
• New world record set at the Super Grand Prix in Monaco
• And most importantly - victory at the Olympic Games in Beijing, with a new world record

In 2009, Elena took a short break from participating in major tournaments, during which Elena studied at Moscow State University at the Faculty of Art. The next year begins with Isinbayeva defending her PhD thesis and becoming a candidate of pedagogical sciences. Resuming participation in the championships, Elena reaches the final of the next world championship, but fails all the jumps one by one. Participating in the XIII World Indoor Championship, he again does not show a good result and is now officially taking a break from his career for an indefinite period.

For children

Interesting facts and dates from life

Elena Isinbaeva’s sports career began in 1987 with rhythmic gymnastics classes from coaches Alexander and Marina Lizov. In 1997, she was awarded the title of Master of Sports in rhythmic gymnastics.

In November 1997, she began pole vaulting with coach Evgeniy Trofimov.

The first major international competition in which Elena Isinbaeva made her debut was the World Junior Championships in Annecy (France) in 1998, where she jumped 4 meters, and only 10 centimeters separated her from the podium.

Her first gold medal came with a jump of 4.10 meters at the World Youth Games in 1999.

In 2000, at the World Junior Championships, she won a gold medal, clearing the bar at a height of 4.20 meters.

In 2001 - gold medal at the European Junior Championships; she achieved a height of 4.40 meters.

In 2002, Isinbaeva jumped to a height of 4.55 meters at the European Championships, losing only 5 centimeters to her compatriot Svetlana Feofanova, who won the gold medal.

In 2003, Elena, having conquered the mark at a height of 4.65 meters, won the European Championship (under 23 years old).

On July 13 of the same year, at a competition in Gateshead (England), she set a new world record at a height of 4.82 meters.

2004 was truly a golden year for Elena Isinbayeva. In the winter season, she set three world records in the indoor pole vault: two in Donetsk (4.81 meters and 4.83 meters) and won with a world record (4.86 meters) in Budapest at the World Athletics Championships indoor athletics Having set 3 more world records one after another in the summer (4.87; 4.89; 4.90 meters), Elena Isinbaeva won her main - Olympic - gold in Athens with a new world record (4.91 meters). After the Olympics, at competitions in Brussels, Elena set another - the 8th in a row in 2004 - world record (4.92 meters).

In July 2005, at the IAAF Super Grand Prix competition in London, Elena Isinbaeva, for the first time in the history of women's pole vaulting, overcame the 5-meter mark, reaching a height of 5 meters exactly.

On August 12, 2005, at the World Athletics Championships in Helsinki, Isinbayeva reached a height of 5.01 meters, setting the 18th world record in her sports career.

During 2005, Elena Isinbayeva achieved nine world records.

In February 2006, Elena Isinbaeva set another record in the indoor pole vault, reaching a height of 4.91 meters.

In March 2006, Isinbayeva won gold at the World Indoor Athletics Championships held in Moscow. The Olympic champion of Athens cleared 4.80 meters on her first attempt, which ensured her victory at the home championship.
In 2007, Elena Isinbaeva again won the pole vault final at the World Athletics Championships.

The result that secured her a gold medal was 4.80 meters.

In the same year, at a tournament in Donetsk, she set another world record for pole vaulting indoors - 4.93 meters.
In February 2008, at the XIX International Pole Stars tournament in Donetsk, Elena set a new world record for indoor pole vaulting. The athlete raised the bar to 4.95 meters and conquered it.

In March 2008, Elena Isinbaeva won the gold medal at the World Indoor Athletics Championships with a score of 4.75 meters.

On July 12, 2008, Isinbayeva set a new world record in the pole vault, breaking her own highest achievement, which stood for almost 3 years. She managed to reach a height of 5.03 meters. This happened at the third stage of the Golden League in Rome.
On July 30, 2008, having reached a height of 5.04 meters at the Super Grand Prix tournament in Monaco, Elena set another, 23rd world record in her career (10 of them indoors).

On August 18, 2008, Elena Isinbaeva became the Olympic champion in pole vaulting for the second time. At the Beijing Olympics, she set a new world record of 5.05 meters.

In April 2009, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) approved two indoor world records by Elena Isinbaeva, shown by her on February 15, 2009 at the Pole Stars tournament in Donetsk (Ukraine) - 4.97 and 5.00 meters.

On August 17, 2009, Isinbayeva sensationally remained without a medal at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin. In the final competition, she unsuccessfully made all three attempts, and in the end the gold went to the Polish athlete Anna Rogowska, who showed a result of 4.75 meters.

On August 28, 2009, Elena Isinbaeva won the Golden League competition in Zurich, setting a new world record. On her first attempt, the Russian athlete achieved a height of 5.06 meters. This record is already the 27th in Isinbayeva’s career.

In March 2010, Elena Isinbaeva performed unsuccessfully at the World Championships in Doha. In April, the Russian jumper announced her intention to take a break from her career for an indefinite period.

The athlete's return to the pole vault sector at the Russian Winter tournament in Moscow, where she won, clearing the bar at a height of 4.81 meters.

In March 2011, it became known that Elena Isinbaeva returned to her first coach Evgeny Trofimov. From November 2005 to March 2011, which at one time led to 35 world records for Sergei Bubka.

In April 2011, the athlete announced that Dynamo (previously Isinbayeva was a member of the ZDV sports club).

In August 2011, at the World Athletics Championships in Daegu (South Korea), Elena Isinbaeva stopped at a height of 4.65 meters.

On February 23, 2012, Elena Isinbaeva won a commercial tournament in Stockholm, setting a new world record in indoor pole vaulting.

Two-time Olympic champion on the second attempt, having previously cleared the bar set at 4.92 meters on the third attempt. Before that, the Russian woman guaranteed herself victory with a score of 4.82 meters.

In March 2012, Elena Isinbayeva competed in indoor athletics, held in Istanbul. She achieved the top step of the podium by successfully clearing a height of 4.70 meters on her first attempt. After which the two-time Olympic champion cleared the bar at 4.80 m.

During the 2012 presidential campaign, Isinbayeva was officially registered as a confidant of Russian presidential candidate and current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Elena Isinbaeva is a two-time Olympic champion (2004, 2008), two-time world champion (2005, 2007), four-time world indoor champion (2004, 2006, 2008, 2012), European champion (2006), European indoor champion (2005).

For her great contribution to the development of physical culture and sports and high sporting achievements, Elena Isinbaeva was awarded the Order of Honor (2006), the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree (2009).

Repeatedly won the annual national sports award "Glory"; Three times recognized by the IAAF as the best athlete of the year.

Twice (based on the results of 2006 and 2008) she was awarded the most prestigious award in the world of sports, awarded by the Laureus World Sports Awards in the category “Sportswoman of the Year”.

The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources

Russian pole vaulter. Honored Master of Sports of Russia. Two-time Olympic champion (2004, 2008), winner of a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympic Games, holder of 28 world records in women's pole vaulting. On July 22, 2005, at a competition in London, she achieved a height of 5 meters for the first time in the history of women's pole vaulting.
On March 6, 2012, she was recognized as the most successful active female athlete in Russia.

Elena's father is Gadzhi Gadzhievich Isinbaev, a Tabasaran by nationality, a native of the village of Chuvek, Khiva region of Dagestan, and her mother, Natalya Petrovna Isinbaeva, is Russian.

For a long time, the athlete lived in Monte Carlo, Monaco. In March 2011, Isinbayeva decided to return to her native Volgograd, so that, according to her, she could spend more time with family and friends.

Sports career

When Elena was 5 years old and her younger sister Inna was 4 years old, their parents sent them to a sports school, where they practiced gymnastics. At the age of 15, Lena was expelled from the Olympic reserve school as unpromising. Then her coach Alexander Lisovoy, having seen the pole vaulter’s performance on television, showed his ward to track and field coach Evgeniy Trofimov. Six months later, in 1998, Elena Isinbaeva won the World Youth Games in Moscow. This was the first victory in the list of her subsequent world records.

Before 2004

Her first major international competition was the World Junior Championships in Annecy, when she cleared 3.90 m and finished in ninth place. In 1999, she became the world junior champion, achieving a height of 4.10 meters.

In 2000, she again became the world champion among juniors with a score of 4.20 m. In the same year, women's pole vaulting was included in the Olympic program.

In 2001, with a result of 4.40 m, Isinbayeva again became first, this time at the European Junior Championships. In the same year, Elena took part in the International Festival in Berlin (ISTAF). There, the athlete achieved a height of 4.46 m, a new world record among juniors, which only the German athlete Silke Spiegelburg could surpass in 2005, improving Isinbayeva’s achievement by 2 centimeters. At the 2002 European Championships in Munich, Elena was second with 4.55 m, losing to another Russian, Svetlana Feofanova.

In 2003, at the European Indoor Championships among athletes under 23 years of age, she won a gold medal with a score of 4.65 m. On July 13, 2003, at the Athletics Games in Gateshead, Elena set a new world record - 4.82 m. At the World Championships At the 2003 athletics in Paris, she rode as a favorite, but became only a bronze medalist, losing to Svetlana Feofanova and German Annika Becker.

On July 30, 2008, at the next stage of the Super Grand Prix series in Monaco, she set her next world record - 5.04 meters, which is one centimeter more than the previous record. Regarding her achievement, the athlete said:

“I live in Monaco. These were my first competitions at my home stadium, which could not help but motivate me.”

On August 18, 2008, at the Beijing Olympics, she won the gold medal in successive attempts, first setting the Olympic (4.95 m) and then the world (5.05 m) records.

On February 15, 2009, at the XX international tournament “Zepter - Pole Stars” in Donetsk, she set 2 world records indoors, first jumping 4.97 meters and then 5.00 meters (the result has not yet been officially approved).

Elena is the best athlete on the planet in 2007 and 2009 according to the Laureus World Academy of Sports Glory.

Having easily reached the final of the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin, in the final itself she was unable to overcome a single height. After the competition, Isinbayeva said that constantly winning and setting record after record, she apparently lost the necessary concentration. The athlete admitted with tears in her eyes that she was ashamed in front of her coach.

On August 28, 2009, at the 5th stage of the Golden League in Zurich, she set the 27th world record (5.06 meters).

On April 10, 2010, after an unsuccessful performance at the World Indoor Championships in Doha, she decided to take an indefinite break from her career.

In April 2010, Elena was chosen as an ambassador for the Youth Olympics in Singapore.

After a pause, information appeared in the press that Elena plans to return to performances at the beginning of 2011, but this information was officially confirmed only on December 1, 2010 - on the official website of the Russian Athletics Federation there was information that Elena would take part in the “Russian Winter”.

On February 6, 2011, at the “Russian Winter” tournament, after a year-long pause in her career, Elena Isinbaeva entered the sector and, having cleared a height of 4.81 m, won the competition with the best result of the season in the world. On August 30, 2011, however, she was left without a medal at the World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea.

On February 23, 2012, at the Stockholm Grand Prix, she set a new world indoor record - 5.01 m. On August 6, 2012, she won a bronze medal at the Olympic Games, reaching a height of 4.70 m.

Awards and titles

Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree (August 2, 2009) - for great contribution to the development of physical culture and sports, high sporting achievements at the Games of the XXIX Olympiad 2008 in Beijing

Order of Honor (February 18, 2006) - for great contribution to the development of physical culture and sports and high sporting achievements

Prince of Asturias Award (October 2009)

Honorary citizen of Donetsk (2006)

A fountain named after her stands near the Vysota cinema in the Kuzminki district of Moscow.

On January 31, 2010, Elena Isinbaeva was recognized as the best athlete of the decade by Track&Field News magazine.

World's Best Athlete by Track & Field News in 2004 and 2005.

The best athlete of the world according to the IAAF (2004, 2005, 2008)

Best European track and field athlete in 2005 and 2008.

Education

Graduated from the Volgograd State Academy of Physical Culture

In October 2010 she became a candidate of pedagogical sciences.

During competitions, the athlete adheres to certain tactics: her first height is a warm-up, the second is a winning height and the third is a record. At Elena’s request, the pole manufacturer “Spirit” makes multi-colored wrappings on them. Isinbayeva chose pink for the initial height, blue for the winning height and golden for the record height.

On February 6, 2012, she was officially registered as a proxy of the candidate for President of the Russian Federation and the current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

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 after this, 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 climbed 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 Olympics.

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 made her first public appearance. 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.