Isinbayeva may be back for Rio
BRONZE
Goals reset
round on Saturday after three years during which she has lost the world championship. Her task was even made easier after world champion Fabiana Murer of Brazil crashed out in the qualifiers.
“I am never thinking about a silver or a bronze medal. I am always after gold,” Isinbayeva told media here.
“But I’ve had problems, most of them personal that I cannot share with you. And to add to all this, the weather was the worst we have seen since the Games started in London,” she added.
“So when I consider what I have gone through to compete here and win, this bronze medal is like a gold medal for me,” she added.
In a way, it is good that Isinbayeva did not win gold in London on Monday, because if she had, then the sporting world would have lost a top class athlete to retirement.
“Oh, there were so many occasions in the past three years when I have questioned myself as to why I need to do all this after winning everything there is in the world of pole vault jumping,” she reflected.
“My initial plan was to win and retire from London. But now, I have to reset my goals. I certainly don’t want to retire with a bronze,” she added.
“Maybe now I have to think about Rio [2016 Olympic Games].”
However, the Russian jumper may have a much earlier opportunity at reclaiming a crown when Moscow hosts the 2013 IAAF World Championships.