Russia's golden Isinbayeva eyes London and own scent
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
BEIJING (Reuters) - Russia's gold-medal winning pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva has two burning ambitions -- to compete in the 2012 London Olympics before retiring and to launch her own perfume for strong, determined women.
The striking athlete, who used to be an officer in the Russian army, dazzled crowds in Beijing with a flamboyant, world-record breaking display of pole vaulting, clearing 5.05 meters on her third attempt for a world best.
Isinbayeva, who also won gold at Athens in 2004, said she had five more competitions this year before taking a holiday then would be back in competition next year with her sights set on competing at London in 2012.
"It is my goal to be there and I would like to win them and then retire," Isinbayeva, 26, told Reuters in an interview in the Omega pavilion at Olympics Green.
Exuding glamour in dangling pearl and diamond earrings, tight jeans and a glittering Dolce & Gabbana belt, Isinbayeva said she would also like to launch her own perfume and was in talks with Adidas about her own fashion line.
"I am really passionate about these things," said the woman widely viewed the best female pole vaulter of all time.
Isinbayeva said she already had a name worked out for her own perfume but no company yet to work with.
"I will talk to my agent and explain my wishes and look for a top company that can do it for us," she said. It is for women who have strong spirits not for glamour women who are like babies but for women who know exactly what they want and keep going to achieve their goal."Isinbayeva had already set 13 outdoor world records before arriving in Beijing to win gold and said she remained as motivated as ever to continue.
"I love to be on the top and I love to do pole vault at a high level," said the Monaco-based athlete whose website says she loves to read philosophy and has a collection of dolphins.
Asked what motivated her, she said it was her young fans.
"I receive a lot of emails and letters from them saying 'Yelena, you are a role model for us, we follow you and we start pole vault because of you.' It is really great."
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