Isinbayeva signals her return to the top

ISTANBUL - Yelena Isinbayeva needed just two jumps to take the world indoor pole vault crown on Sunday and signal her return to the top of her sport.

The 29-year-old Russian’s last major title came at the 2008 Olympics, and she acknowledged the significance of her recent victory at the Atakoy Athletics Arena in Istanbul.

“It was very important to me. The last three years showed me how important it is for me to win,” she told reporters. “I am so happy as if it was the first time,” Isinbayeva said of her fourth world indoor title. “I am not really surprised that I only needed two attempts. I am confident that I am in great shape.”

Plagued by injury and poor form, Isinbayeva decided to take a break from the sport after failing to register a height in the 2009 world championships. She returned last year after an 11-month absence.

She is unbeaten in 2012 and set an indoor world record of 5.01 metres in Stockholm last month, although she failed in her bid to break it in Istanbul.

“The break was good for me, my body needed a rest and my mind too,” Isinbayeva said.

“Today I understand better what I achieved in the past, how great this was and is.”

When she stepped up to take her first vault with the bar at 4.7 meters, the crowd came alive as her name was announced on the PA system.

She cleared it with plenty to spare, and with one more effort at 4.8, the gold was hers. Reuters