Russia expects and Isinbayeva delivers

Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia, the hottest favourite at these championships, duly took gold with a, for her, modest 4.80m, with Anna Rogowska of Poland taking silver and a returning Svetlana Feofanova bronze. The expected World Indoor attempt of 4.93 fizzled out, though, as Isinbayeva failed to take advantage of only having taken three jumps to secure the title.

The Russian World and Olympic champion applied the pressure even before she jumped. As soon as the stadium announcer explained she would be entering at a height of 4.60, her rivals must have felt they were jumping for silver...

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