Isi updates ...

[BruceFlorman]

There doesn't seem to be anything on the IAAF website yet, but it appears that Getty Images is letting the cat out of the bag a little early. Apparently Yelena is the female Athlete of the Year! http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Detai ... d=83794129

No big surprise, but Usain Bolt is the male AOY.

[BruceFlorman]

And now it's official...

Sunday, 23 November 2008
Bolt and Isinbayeva are World Athletes of the Year – 2008 World Athletics Gala

Monte-Carlo – During the celebrations of the World Athletics Gala hosted by International Athletic Foundation (IAF) Honorary President HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and IAF & IAAF President Lamine Diack in the Salle des Etoiles of the Sporting Club d’Eté Monte Carlo, 22-year-old Jamaican Usain Bolt and Russia’s 26-year-old Yelena Isinbayeva were crowned as the Male and Female World Athletes of the Year 2008.

Bolt, who captivated the attention of the sporting world with his Olympic 100m, 200m and 4x100m gold medals, each with a world record performance, commented:

“I have a motto that anything is possible. But this really is such an honour.”

"Just to be included with every great name in the sport is wonderful. I’ll try to do it year after year."

Undefeated in nine outdoor competitions this year, Isinbayeva raised her own World record on three occasions and defended her Olympic title, also with a World record. Also the World Athlete of the Year for 2004 and 2005, Isinbayeva commented:

“I’m very proud. It feels like the first time after getting over my difficulties of 2006 and 2007. I will make a very special place of honor for this trophy.”

"I knew it was going to be difficult over the past two seasons. I was very confident that I could break through the wall.”

more

[BruceFlorman]

From a brief article in the Russian sports daily Sport-Express…

Yelena Isinbaeva: "Perhaps the third title is even more important than the first"
As "SE" already reported, double Olympic champion, Russia’s Yelena Isinbaeva, and triple Olympic champion, Jamaica’s Usain Bolt, were announced as the "Athletes of the Year" by the International Association of Athletics Federations.

Bolt won this honorary title for the first time in his career, but Isinbaeva became the first woman in history to be named the world's best for a third time.
…
- I am very proud of this, my third athlete of the year title. For me it is perhaps even more important than the first. This means that the most difficult moments of my career are behind. This past season showed that I am again on top and be able to set world records. I would like to win more in the future. It’s wonderful to feel oneself to be the best. My coach, Vitaly Petrov argues that the difference between the male and female world records in the pole vault should be only one meter (Sergei Bubka’s indoor world record is 6.15. – ed.), so that’s what I have to strive for. In principle, I expect to eventually reach the level of 5.15 – 5.20.
…

I elided a list of the award winners in all the categories, and a quote from Bolt which undoubtedly had been translated from English to Russian… which I don’t want to translate back and then be embarrassed later when I see the original version.

And there's nothing particularly new or exciting in these other two little articles from AllSport.ru, but I've already translated 'em, so I might as well post 'em.

From Saturday...

18:18 22.11.2008 – Athletics
Yelena Isinbaeva: for the Gala I’ve prepared a white dress with precious stones on the shoulders
Tomorrow, November 23rd, in Monte Carlo the gala evening for acknowledging the year’s best athletes, the 2008 World Athletics Gala, will take place. One of the aspirants for the title of best sportswoman is double Olympic champion and multiple world record-breaker in the women’s pole vault, Russia’s Yelena Isinbaeva. On the eve of the Gala Yelena Isinbaeva shared her expectations with a special correspondent for the agency of sport information "All Sport".

“I always like to see my acquaintances at the Gala in unusual circumstances and in the unexpected form,” Yelena Isinbaeva said. “All season we are competing in uniforms and spikes, but here in Monte Carlo, it’s really nice to be seen in heels, wearing suits and evening dresses. My attire, of course, is already prepared. Tomorrow, I’ll appear in a white dress, decorated with precious stones on the shoulders. I bought it the other day in one of the boutiques in Monte Carlo. The dress seems very beautiful to me. And very expensive,” laughed Isinbaeva.

And from today...

23:02 23.11.2008 – Athletics
Yelena Isinbaeva: This award means more to me than the previous two
World Athletics Gala - Today, November 23rd, the International Association Athletics Federations (IAAF) at the traditional gala evening for acknowledging the year’s best athletes, the World Athletics Gala, Russia’s Yelena Isinbaeva was announced as the best female athlete of 2008. Last season she set four world records, won the Winter World Championship and the Olympics. She is the first women in the history of athletics to be recognized as the best three times by the IAAF. Yelena Isinbaeva shared her emotions with a special correspondent for the agency of sport information "All Sport".

“I’m indeed very proud to be the first sportswoman in history to receive this prize three times,” said Yelena Isinbaeva. “It seems like the whole ceremony in Monaco is happening for the first time for me. This latest award means more to me than the previous two. Then I was at the peak, but this time I was able to overcome a difficult road and rise to the top again. I proved to everyone that Isinbaeva is still able to win and set world records! (laughing) My coach Vitaly Petrov says that the difference between the male and female pole vault should be one meter. Sergey Bubka’s world record stands at around 6.15 m. So I must add at least another 10 cm to my current record! Now, in fact, my main motivation is my quantity of titles and my number of records. At some point the matter all moved to a mathematical plane. And I feel that I still have more in reserve.”

[BruceFlorman]

From the European Athletics Association website…

Isinbayeva is Female World Athlete of the Year
24.11.2008

Russian pole vault queen Yelena Isinbayeva added to her staggering list of honours this year by being named as the Female World Athlete of the Year at the World Athletics Gala, the Oscars of the sport, in Monte Carlo.

Isinbayeva, who last month received the Waterford Crystal European Athlete of the Year 2008 trophy, won the prestigious award for the third time after also being awarded the Female World Athlete of the Year in 2004 and 2005.

"I will make a special place for this trophy... not just because the design is different to the other two," joked Isinbayeva.

"It will have a special place of honour because I think this award means even more to me than the first two times because of the struggles I had in 2006 and 2007," she added

This year though, she bounced back with aplomb and was undefeated in nine outdoor competitions. She also raised her own World record on three occasions including the fabulous show at the Beijing Olympics when she defended her title clearing 5.05m.

"Honestly, it's sometimes hard when I look back over the season to believe I've won a second Olympic title with a world record. When I see the video again of what I did in Beijing, my heart starts to thump.

"Looking back over the last year, absolutely the only thing that could have gone better was the World Indoor Championships in Valencia. To win that with 4.75m was a disappointment because I wanted to win with a World record, like I did at the Olympics.

"Now I want to set more and more World records. I want to take the World record outdoors up to 5.15m maybe 5.20m. This is my goal of course, I don't know whether it will be possible, but we will see.

"But my coach Vitaly Petrov believes that there should only be one metre difference between the men's and the women's world record so now I have to go out and prove him right. I have to jump at least another 10 centimetres higher," added Isinbayeva in a light-hearted fashion.

Her mood was lifted even further by the fact that she received a $100,000 cheque for being the Female World Athlete of the Year.

"But I've already spent some of the money because I went out and bought a very expensive dress especially for the Gala. Nothing is cheap in Monaco."

Isinbayeva is known for her glamorous attire and will soon launch her own clothing line. Since the start of the month, she is back to wearing sports gear, after a hectic post-season celebrations and award ceremonies.

"It's been hard. My muscles are stiff but it's been good to get back and I'm already looking ahead to the indoor season and next year's World Championships in Berlin although I don't think I will compete at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Turin, despite it being in Italy which I love very much as I train there regularly. This might be the occasion to give some of the younger Russian athletes a chance to compete at a big championship," added Isinbayeva.

In addition to Isinbayeva, other European athletes honoured at the glittering occasion at Monte Carlo's Sporting Club d'Eté were Czech javelin thrower Barbora Špotáková, who jointly received the Performance of the Year Award for her World Record of 72.28m at the World Athletics Final in September.

Swedish high jumpers Kajsa Bergqvist and Stefan Holm both received Distinguished Career Awards while Norwegian javelin thrower Andreas Thorkildsen, the male Waterford Crystal European Athlete of the Year 2008, got a Special Olympic Award for defending his title at the Olympic Games in Beijing after also winning the gold medal in Athens four years ago.

BTW, I corrected it here, but the article as it currently appears on the EAA website demonstrates why one shouldn't rely on spell checkers to do all your proofreading. I doubt that the author really intended to say that Isi's coach is named "Vital Petrol".

[BruceFlorman]

===========================================

Princess of the pole vault a class above the rest

SHE has broken the world record more than 20 times but the imperious princess of the pole vault, Yelena Isinbayeva, is not finished yet.

Isinbayeva, who set her latest world record of 5.05 metres when she won the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics, believes she can jump as high as 5.20m before her career is over. It is a lofty aim, but for the Russian, who works as hard on her glamour-girl image as she does on the pole vault, it is not unrealistic.

Last night in Monaco -- the tax haven that she calls home -- she collected $US100,000 ($159,000) when she was named athlete of the year at the IAAF world gala. She arrived in a glittering white gown and quipped that she had spent most of her prize money on it.

She is the only woman to have won the prestigious award three times -- she previously collected it in 2004 and 2005 -- highlighting her status as one of the most gifted sportswomen in history.

She shared the limelight with Usain Bolt, who was named male athlete of the year for breaking the 100m and 200m records in Beijing, as well as being part of Jamaica's record-breaking 4x100m relay team.

But even the sprinting supernova Bolt, who sped around Monaco in a borrowed Ferrari yesterday, admitted he had a long way to go to match Isinbayeva.

"Twenty three world records, that speaks for itself, it is so impressive," Bolt said. "I have two (individual) world records. I watch her and she makes it look easy. And she does backflips when she wins, which I can't do. She's unbeatable."

So dominant is she that Isinbayeva has the top 10 jumps of all time, and the next best vaulter, American Jenn Stuczynski, is way behind with 4.92m.

That jump, at the US Olympic trials in July, was Stuczynski's grandest moment, but it precipitated one of her silliest. High on her achievement, she commented that in Beijing she would try to "kick some Russian butt".

It was just what Isinbayeva needed after two years of jumping that, by her own stellar standards, had been below par. "It made me angry, in an athletic sense," she said, and responded with a world record of 5.03m a few days later, followed by 5.04m in late July and then the knockout blow of 5.05m at the Olympics.

That streak was enough to win her the IAAF award ahead of the other contenders, Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba, who won the 5k and 10k at the Olympics, and Kenya's Pamela Jelimo, who won the 800m Olympic gold medal and set five world junior records.

Isinbayeva said she drew inspiration from her mentor Sergey Bubka, the Ukrainian vaulter who was as dominant in the 1990s as she is now. "He showed everybody it is possible to be unbeatable and it is a very good example to me," Isinbayeva said.

For the past three years Isinbayeva has been coached by Vitali Petrov, the man who guided Bubka to legend status in the daredevil event.

Bubka set 35 world records and still no man has come near the 6.14m mark he set in 1994. The next best vault in history is 6.05m, by Russia's Maxsim Tarasov and Australia's Dmitri Markov.

Isinbayeva wants to at least equal Bubka's number of world records, and centimetre by centimetre -- because she gets a hefty financial bonus for each world record -- she is likely to get there.

Petrov re-made her technique in 2006 and 2007 to enable her to keep improving until at least the London Olympics.

"I don't know how high I can go but Vitali feels the difference between men and women's pole vault is one metre so I must prove it. I have only jumped 5.05 so there is another 10cm minimum I must jump," Isinbayeva said.

Jelimo, 18, won the Revelation of the Year Award. It was fitting, given she was an unknown 400m runner until a year ago but emerged from a tiny village in Kenya's Rift Valley to the top of the 800m podium in Beijing.

Cuba's Dayron Robles won best performance of the year for his June world record of 12.87sec in the 110m hurdles, surprisingly pipping Bolt in the category.

[BruceFlorman]

Okay you're probably gettin' tired of them, but I expect this'll be the last of the post-Gala stories.

21:35 24.11.2008 – Athletics
Yelena Isinbaeva: I'm afraid to die – there’s still so much I need to accomplish in this life
Yesterday, on November 23rd in Monaco, the formal evening to honor the best athletes year took place – the World Athletics Gala, organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). For the third time double Olympic champion and 24-time world record-breaker Yelena Isinbaeva was recognized as the best female athlete of the year. Her performance last season: an Olympic title, victory at the winter world championships and four world records. In an exclusive interview with Natalia Maryanchik, special correspondent for the agency of sport information "All Sport", Yelena Isinbaeva summed up her results from last season, spoke about the cost of her ceremonial dress, and explained why she doesn’t scuba dive and skydive.

- Lena, now you’re a double Olympic champion, the best athlete of the year in the world and the holder of 24 world records. Can you call yourself an absolutely happy person?
- Yes, I’m absolutely happy. And I’m still a little lucky if we talk about the Gala. Altogether, in this case, the decision didn’t depend on me as it does in the sector, but on the members of the jury.

- Along with the title of best sportswoman, you received a 100 thousand dollar prize.
- I’ve spent almost all of it already - on my evening gown for the ceremony! (laughing) Well, maybe not all of it, but a substantial part. Of course, when I was choosing my apparel, deep in my heart I hoped that the expense would pay off. And see, my premonition didn’t let me down.

- Last year, your coach Vitaly Petrov was recognized as the coach of the year, but you didn’t receive the title of best sportswoman.
- I wasn’t the least bit envious! Vitaly Afanasevich deserved that title 100 per cent. It’s unimportant that my own year wasn’t so good. My coach did an excellent job in any case. Well, I was named the best sportswoman in 2004 and 2005, but then I still worked with my former coach (Yevgeny Trofimov – ed.). Now it’s especially important for me to win the title again with Vitaly Afanasevich.

- You’ve been recognized as best athlete of the year for the third time. Perhaps your emotions aren’t so great as when you first won the title?
- No, on the contrary, I value this last title more than any other. Then I was strong, and I thought that it would always be so. But now I’ve managed to overcome a difficult period, which spanned 2006 and 2007. I was able to change my life and prove that I’m still Yelena Isinbaeva, still able to win and break records. I won’t deny that the stories made me angry, saying how Isinbaeva’s era was over, that nothing more would come. Maybe these doubts from the journalists and fans that were just the right motivation for me.

- And now you’ve forgotten about training?
- Prior to the Gala I’ve had five training days. It’s very difficult, and my whole body hurts. And this still without even taking a pole in my hands! So far I’ve only been doing power drills, stretching and running. Sometimes in the morning I just go up into the mountains, since there are enough of them in Monaco, and I walk, walk, walk... It’s so steep there that running is impossible!

- How did you occupy yourself after your Beijing triumph?
- I rested for two whole months. I stayed at home in Volgograd for two weeks, with my family and friends. I attended the reception in honor of Olympians with the mayor and governor. Everyone was so happy to see me, since after all, I’m not a frequent visitor in Volgograd. Then I traveled by sea to Egypt – to sunbathe and swim. It was the perfect vacation - sun, sea and lots of delicious food. During the season I have to limit my sweets. I can’t forego chocolate entirely, but I at least try not to eat too much. And when it’s the off-season I can eat whatever I want without concern for my weight. That’s a real holiday!

- Compare your feelings about your Olympic victories: Now and four years ago.
- In 2004 my emotions were considerably more. Now the fans have gotten used to my victories and records. In Volgograd, it was a series of “we all knew in advance, well okay yes, congratulations…” But for me the Beijing Olympics were harder than Athens. It’s always more difficult to repeat than doing something for the first time.

- Last season, did you achieve everything that you wanted and planned?
- Perhaps not. I’d planned to win the winter world championship in Valencia with a world record, but instead only managed 4.75. I was a little disappointed.

- Your jumps are practically flights from five meters. Have you long ago stopped noticing, or do you still enjoy a sense of flight?
- Yes, of course, I do. I suppose it’s only half a second, but I'm flying, and if it’s a successful jump, I delight in this instant.

- And you’ve never wanted, for example, to jump with a parachute?
- Maybe, but only if with an instructor. I think alone, I’d just freeze at the threshold of the plane and would never jump. I even dove in Egypt, though not deep, not with a mask and aqualung. In reality, I'm afraid to die. There’s still so much I need to accomplish in this life!

- But you’re not afraid to pole vault?
- In the sector there are lots of people; they’ll save me if I need it. (laughing) But seriously, I really don’t fear the pole vault. I love my event. It’s unlike any other, and indeed it’s just right for me. And incidentally, it’s very glamorous. I even think that next season I’ll start to jump with colorful tape on my pole. I’ve already discussed the possibility with the company that makes my poles.

[slvr1969]

.

[rainbowgirl28]

- But you’re not afraid to pole vault?
- In the sector there are lots of people; they’ll save me if I need it. (laughing) But seriously, I really don’t fear the pole vault. I love my event. It’s unlike any other, and indeed it’s just right for me. And incidentally, it’s very glamorous. I even think that next season I’ll start to jump with colorful tape on my pole. I’ve already discussed the possibility with the company that makes my poles.[/size]

[/quote]

If she means grip tape that's one thing, but if she means a special wrap... Spirit has never done that for anyone before, not even Bubka (then again, being male he probably never cared about that)

[slvr1969]

.

[BruceFlorman]

- But you’re not afraid to pole vault?
- In the sector there are lots of people; they’ll save me if I need it. (laughing) But seriously, I really don’t fear the pole vault. I love my event. It’s unlike any other, and indeed it’s just right for me. And incidentally, it’s very glamorous. I even think that next season I’ll start to jump with colorful tape on my pole. I’ve already discussed the possibility with the company that makes my poles.

If she means grip tape that's one thing, but if she means a special wrap... Spirit has never done that for anyone before, not even Bubka (then again, being male he probably never cared about that)

I'm not sure exactly what she means. The phrase "с цветным тейпом на шесте" seems to be "with colorful tape on (my) pole", but I'm not 100% positive. The 'ом' at the end of "тейпом" forms the prepositional case of a noun (if I have my grammatical terms right), but the word "тейп" (teyp), or variations thereof, doesn't actually appear in any of my Russian/English dictionaries. The actual Russian word for tape is "лента" (lenta), but so many English words have creeped into Russian in one form or another that I just decided this was probably another instance of that. But whatever... it sounds like she'll probably have something colorful on her poles next year.

[BruceFlorman]

Does anybody have a video of the GALA? In my country they did not broadcast it!!!! We get only 16 hours athletics a year. And the others sports about 5000 hours a year each.

I'm sure it wasn't broadcast anywhere in the U.S. either, but the IAAF website streamed the event live. I'm sorry it didn't occur to me to post something about that. And it's too bad I was watching from home. I've got the software to capture streamed video installed on my machine at work, but I've never gotten around to installing it on my home machine.

You might try sending an inquiry to info@iaaf.org to see if the recording is available somewhere.

[slvr1969]

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