Russia's Isinbayeva breaks pole vault indoor WR twice in one day

DONETSK, February 16 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Yelena Isinbayeva broke the world indoors record twice in a single day at a Pole Vault Stars meeting in Ukraine's Donetsk on Sunday, first clearing 4.97 meters and then 5.0 meters.

The 26-year-old Russian added to her outstanding career the 25th and 26th world records, setting new milestones in pole-vaulting for the sixth consecutive year at the Donetsk tournament.

Isinbayeva, the reigning Olympic, world and European champion, decided to break her previous indoors world record of 4.95 by adjusting the bar to 4.96 meters, but failed to clear it with the first two attempts. She then asked for the bar to be raised by a centimeter, and set a new world record with the first attempt.

"It was just superstition. We decided for 4.97 instead of wasting another attempt on an unlucky number," the official Website of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) quoted Isinbayeva as saying.

Within 15 minutes of clearing 4.97 meters, the incredible Isinbayeva, who also holds the outdoor world record of 5.05 meters, asked for and cleared a height of 5.0 meters, to become the first woman pole vault jumper to clear the height both indoors and outdoors.

"We had in mind to first do 4.96 and then five meters. The reason is the atmosphere here [in Donetsk]. It's a very special competition and there are lots of special connections for me here," said Isinbayeva, the 2008 IAAF World Athlete of the Year.

The Russian, who was also named athlete of the year in 2004 and 2005, broke the pole vault world record three times in 2008 and defended her Olympic crown with a record breaking vault of 5.05m at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Isinbayeva stated last year she had no plans to retire in the next four years and her goal is to defend her Olympic title at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.

"I plan to defend my champion title at the Olympics in London...Of course, I am planning to break 10-15 world records," said Isinbayeva.