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Journalism of Courage
It was a still Tuesday night in Athens but a hurricane was blowing down in the pole vault area at the Olympic Stadium. Two Russians, bitter rivals with 17 world records between them, kept the crowds captivated for three hours, till well past midnight. In the process was set the first athletics world record at an Olympic Games since Michael Johnson ran 200 metres in that incredible 19.32 in Atlanta.
In cold statistics, Yelena Isinbayeva flew 4.91 m over the cross bar to set the record and claim gold; Svetlana Feofanova settled for the silver with 4.75, and Anna Rogoswka the bronze. Yet those figures hide the drama, the high-stakes gambles — Isinbayeva staked her gold on one jump — and the cold calculations of a top-quality Olympic event. Feofanova began her campaign at 4.40 and cleared easily, as did Isinbayeva, sailing over half a metre clear.
By the time the bar moved up to 4.55 there were still 12 vaulters left in the competition. Feofanova — a former gymnast who had been a teammate of Svetlana Khorkhina’s — appeared happier with her second vault. Isinbayeva, the more demonstrative of the two, brought a louder roar from the crowd. Again she was well clear, and already looking more impressive, more at ease.
When the bar went up to 4.65, beyond the existing Olympic record, there were only five women left in it.
Feofanova cleared easily but Isinbayeva, now directly following her rival, almost made a mistake and was lucky not to hit the bar on the way up. She knew it too, patting her heart in a gesture of relief as she stood up on the mat.
At 4.70, the field was down to three: Rogowska and the two Russians. Now it was just a question of which medal for whom.
Clearing 4.70m has been easy stuff for Feofanova and Isinbayeva in recent years, but the pressure of the big event was having its effect. Feofanova, becoming more animated with each vault, cleared again, clenching her fists in celebration.
Then, in the first big shock of the competition, Isinbayeva failed. She was way above the bar but had mistimed her effort and fell on it as she descended. The initiative was now with Feofanova, so Isinbayeva passed her jump.
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‘At 4.80, I knew I would win’
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• ATHENS: ‘‘When I reached 4.80m, I knew I would win’’, Yelena Isinbayeva told The Indian Express. ‘‘The world record was extra. I know I’m capable of more, but I wanted to go centimetre by centimetre.’’ She had her eye on the Russian government’s incentive system as well, the same tactic that legendary Sergie Bubka used to amass wealth. ‘‘When I couldn’t clear 4.75 metres, I got tense a little. I even got scared. But when they raised the bar to 4.80 metres, I thought this is it. All or nothing. Actually, I was the one who asked for 4.91. I was sure I could get it’’, she said. ‘‘The gold medal means a lot to me. The Olympics are every four years and I don’t know if I will be still competing in 2008. But you can break the world record whenever you like’’, she said. — Norris Pritam |
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At 4.75, Rogowska, first to vault, brought the bar down with her torso. Nerves were beginning to play their part now. Feofanova failed too. It was Isinbayeva’s chance to regain the upper hand. But the composure just wasn’t there and she brought the bar down with her arm. Rogowska was closer with her second, but went out of the competition.
Feofanova cleared, so Isinbayeva passed again. She hadn’t cleared a height since 4.65.
Rogowska, with 4.70, had a medal and if Isinbayeva failed her next — and last — chance, the Pole would get silver.
4.80 now. Feofanova was first. She failed. Isinbayeva next. She raised the pole to the sky, muttered her customary chant and set off. Jump successful, she put her face in her hands, almost in tears at the relief. She had the silver, now she wanted gold. All the pressure returned to Feofanova.
She put the bar up to 4.85, attempting to psyche her compatriot. She failed her own jump but Isinbayeva, her poise returned, cleared with the kind of style she’s shown all season. Now Feofanova had just one jump left. She put the bar up again, to 4.90 — world record height. Fail and it’s the silver for her.
Isinbayeva sat with a towel on her head, unable to look. She needn’t have worried: Feofanova wasn’t even close, falling under the bar. Isinbayeva was smiling again.
She wasn’t done yet. The bar was pushed up another centimetre and, soaring upwards, silhouetted by the Olympic flame against the night sky, she had the world record in her pocket — her fifth outdoors, eighth in total.
