Yelena Gadzhievna Isinbayeva is a Russian former pole vaulter. She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, a three-time World Champion, the world record holder in the event, and is widely considered the greatest female pole-vaulter of all time.
Isinbayeva was banned from the 2016 Rio Olympics after revelations of an extensive state-sponsored doping program in Russia, thus dashing her hopes of a grand retirement after winning the Olympic gold medal. She retired from athletics in August 2016 after being elected to serve an 8-year term on the IOC's Athletes' Commission.
Isinbayeva in 2013
Isinbayeva at the 1998 World Youth Games in Moscow
Isinbayeva being interviewed after her victory at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics in Osaka.
Isinbayeva passing the bar in Osaka
Pole vaulting, also known as pole jumping, is a track and field event in which an athlete uses a long and flexible pole, usually made from fiberglass or carbon fiber, as an aid to jump over a bar. Pole jumping competitions were known to the Mycenaean Greeks, Minoan Greeks and Celts. It has been a full medal event at the Olympic Games since 1896 for men and since 2000 for women.
Vaulting phases of world record holder Armand Duplantis
Pole vault in the 1890s at US Naval Academy
Traditional fierljeppen in the Netherlands, using poles to clear "horizontal distances" over rivers
Pole vaulter Allison Stokke prepares for her jump.