European Athletics (EAA) – News – Yelena Isinbayeva talks about returning home to Volgograd

Russia’s two-time Olympic champion and pole vault world record holder Yelena Isinbayeva made a highly publicised return to her former mentor Yevgeny Trofimov last month, after spending more than five years being coached by Vitaliy Petrov. 

In an interview with the Russian athletics federation website www.rusathletics.com, Isinbayeva talks about her return to her native city of Volgograd.

Isinbayeva was virtually unbeatable between 2003 and 2009, winning every major competition before suffering a shock defeat at the 2009 World Championships.

She took a break from the sport during the summer of 2010 after failing to win a medal at last year's World Indoor Championships but then returned this winter and cleared 4.85m to lead the European indoor rankings.

Q: Yelena, how is training going?

A: So far, so good, but I don’t want to say anymore so as not to put a jinx on it. I did do as I said and moved to Volgograd to train with Yevgeny Trofimov. We have a good and full understanding; I’m working hard and getting ready for the season. I’m still training in the indoor arena as it is still cool and sometimes rainy outdoors. However, in early May, we will move into the open air.

Q: Why did you decide to compete for the local Dynamo club?

A: In 2008, my previous club Railway Troops, which I was a member of for 10 years, was disbanded and since then I have only competed for the Russian national team. But now, as I’ll be spending most of my time in Russia, the management of Dynamo invited me to compete for them and give something back to the community, and I agreed.

Q: I guess your parents are happy that you have returned home?

A: Of course they are happy that they now see me more often in the flesh and not just on TV, especially because both my sister and I are close to home. Due to the unfortunate events in Japan, my sister Inessa returned to Volgograd. We were very worried about her, when all of Japan was shaking and the nuclear power station in Fukushima Prefecture began to leak radioactivity. We only calmed down when we saw my sister with her children healthy and unharmed. However, my sister's husband has had to return as he has a contract with Cirque du Soleil in Japan.

Q: Do you now get pampered by your parents?

A: It’s only my sister’s children that get pampered but they are certainly very pleased at the unexpected turn of events which brought the whole family together. However, they all live in their own apartments so, generally, I am cooking for myself except when I am too lazy to cook, then I go round to see Inessa as she lives nearby.

Q: Have you seen Tatyana Lebedeva, who is now also back in Volgograd, since the birth of her daughter (her daughter Aleksandra was born on April 9).

A: I have seen little Sasha. In my opinion, she looks like her husband Nkolay: she’s blonde and has his eyes, although children change so rapidly. She's very pretty and, more importantly, a calm child, at least during the day, which is when I saw her. Tanya’s ability to find the time to train, to have children, and to be involved in politics: she is example is for everyone! I hope she will be in shape to compete in London next year.

European Athletics (EAA) –  News