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Честно сказать, подсознательно я думала, что это моё последнее выступление. Я хотела оставить хороший след. И я показала достойный результат, выиграла золотую медаль. Теперь, если не получится вернуться, буду знать, что ушла с чистым сердцем.

Speaking honestly, I subconsciously thought that this was my final appearance. I wanted to leave a good mark. And I showed a decent result, won the gold medal. Now, if my return doesn't turn out, I'll know that I left with a pure heart.

01:01 14.08.2013 – World Athletics Championship 2013
Elena Isinbaeva: I won because the world championship is at home
Today, 13 August, in Moscow, the fourth day of the World Athletics Championship concluded. Russia’s two-time Olympic champion, Elena Isinbaeva became a three-time world champion in the pole vault. Elena spoke about her triumph and more, with “All Sport” special correspondents Vladimir Ivanov and Maria Vorobyova.

- Before the competition, I said that victory would be awarded for a height of 4.90 to 4.95 meters – recalled Elena Isinbaeva. – I was going into the world championship with no recent brilliant victories, or even the season’s world lead. But I knew that “Luzhniki” would bolster me; that all of the audience’s energy would be for me – and today it really helped. I won because the world championships are taking place at home. My family, and my coach, Evgeniy Trofimov, were in the stands. I officially declare that he resurrected me. Today’s victory happened only thanks to him and our work together.

- What did you discuss for so long with Trofimov after the unsuccessful first attempt at your 4.65 m starting height?
- I suggested to Evgeniy Vasilievich that I pass this height, since I felt just great – just the pole had been too soft. But my coach said it wasn’t worth the risk. Although I myself was very worried.

- Now will you tell us what you discuss with your poles?
- Thus far I still haven’t left the sport, so it’s too early to reveal (my) secrets. When I hang up my spikes, maybe I’ll tell.

- Earlier, during competitions, you constantly hid under a blanket, but now your behavior is very liberated, communicating with the stands.
- I’ve had a change in attitude toward the competition and my competitors. Earlier, I was in a cocoon, I thought that everyone around was jumping better than me. I came up with this on my own – and yet still believed in this rubbish. Then, at the start of this season, I took off my cap and blanket, and realized that the girls are trying, jumping – but not flying. Then I realized that things weren’t as bad as I’d imagined. So I just dropped the whole camouflage, seeing the real balance of power.

- Were you pleased by how the stands supported you?
- Today at the stadium I got the all-time best support of my career. This was my native audience, my native home! If last year’s Olympic Games had been held here, the results would have been completely different. That’s not to say that I’ve had poor support in other countries, but I felt like today absolutely everyone was pulling for me. I felt such energy and emotion, which resulted in the gold medal.

- Lena, can you compare your Olympic victories in Athens 2004, and Beijing 2008, with winning the world championship title in Moscow?
- It’s very difficult to compare. In Athens and Beijing I won as the clear favorite. The road from Athens to Beijing was not as rough as the route I traveled to these world championships. Then I was winning all the competitions, setting world records, and didn’t know the meaning of defeat! Winning the gold today, I can say with confidence: this medal is the dearest to me. On the way from Beijing to (my) victorious home world championship, I’ve had so many problems, defeats, complications and injuries!.. I completely lost faith in my own strength, I was simply desperate, (and) sometimes the thought crept in: maybe it’s really time for me to leave? The training didn’t stick, the jumping didn’t come off, everything simply fell apart and collapsed. But then I started working again with Evgeniy Vasilevich Trofimov, who gave me confidence in myself, and hope that I could do it all again! He just promised that returning to my previous level, we’d again win the champion’s title, that I’d certainly become number one! I simply needed to be patient. And beginning in 2010, we worked and endured together. Without regard for anything else. Without listening to the words addressed to us – the fact that everyone around said that Isinbaeva’s era was over, that Isinbaeva had blown up. I’ve heard to so much, suffered so many insults, but on the other hand, this spurred me on. Once people are talking, it means they’re waiting for something, and once they’re waiting, it means that I can do it! Therefore, I’m deliriously happy that Evgeniy Vasilivich and I proved to the whole world that Isinbaeva’s era has not only come again, but didn’t conclude at all!

- When did you start your training after the Olympic Games in London?
- This was a very difficult period for me. After London I told Evgeniy Vasilievich: that’s all; I’m leaving; I no longer have either the strength or emotion; psychologically, I just can’t imagine how I can continue to train. Before London, I still had some hope that I could win those Games, but once on the field, I realized that I was already just up to the light. [note: “up to the light” is an idiomatic phrase in Russian, meaning “I don’t care anymore”. Another translation might be “I was already just at my wits end.”] I was already so sick of everything, that I had nothing to jump with; I had no emotion. We began to prepare for the winter season, and I just came and said: I don’t want to anymore. Then Evgeniy Vasilievich said, “If you don’t want to, you don’t have to. How much rest do you need?” I replied that I wouldn’t jump all winter. The wisdom of my coach is such that he never forces me to do what I don’t want to. He simply guides me. He asked me whether I’d come to train? And when I came for workouts, he gradually approached me and suggested: maybe some running? Maybe some swinging? And thus gradually, unobtrusively, he didn’t let me get too out of shape. And in March he suggested that I start jumping. Initially I refused. But he stood his ground: maybe just give it a try? And I tried. And we began to notice that I was gaining form. Then the injury occurred. I went through rehabilitation, after which the pain still hasn’t completely subsided, but I was able to continue training and jumping.

- Do you already know what you’ll do with your life after sports?
- Life after sports won’t be so bright. There won’t be such emotion. There won’t be victories. There won’t be anthems played in my honor! Sure, there will still be some vital victories. The birth of a child is also a huge accomplishment, given from above. I’ll have to learn about family life too, as this will be a new experience. I now need to learn how to be a girl who doesn’t have to fight for everything. But knowing myself, I can’t imagine how I can live without fighting. I can’t even imagine what I’ll do once I’m walking around pregnant! (laughter)

- Lena, tell us more about your wedding!
- To be honest, like always, I’m running ahead of the train! My fiancé is in shock. He asks me not to discuss the wedding; not to mention that we’re planning to have a baby. He says – you first have to get pregnant! Ah, of course. I’ve already told everyone that I’m going to get pregnant, and get married soon, although the date isn’t yet known. But so far we’ve had neither a proposal, nor an attempt to become pregnant! (laughter) As soon as I know the details myself, I’ll share them with everyone.

- What are your plans now for the next few days?
- We’re planning to celebrate such that all of Moscow will “buzz”! I’m afraid to imagine what will happen now. We’ll note all the clubs, go down to every restaurant – in short, we’ll be out on the town without constraints. (laughter)