Yelena Isinbayeva is a former pole vaulter from Russia. She has won three World Championships, two Olympic gold medals (2004 and 2008), and the current record for the competition.
She is also one of the best female pole vaulters of all time. Following disclosures of a significant state-sponsored doping program in Russia, Isinbayeva was disqualified from the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. In August 2016, she declared her retirement from competitive sports.
Who is Yelena Isinbayeva? Childhood, Parents, Education, and Nationality
Yelena Isinbayeva, also known as Beauty Bird, was born to Natalia Petrovna and Hari Gafanovich. Her daddy was a Tabasaran who emigrated from Dagestan, while her mom was Russian as well as worked in the basement.
The Isinbayeva spouses tried their best to assist their daughters in everything, even though the family was not wealthy. Similar to how they welcomed the sisters into the world, their mother Natalia anticipated a sporting career.
From five to fifteen years old, Isinbayeva had gymnastics training. But it was decided that she was too tall to participate in gymnastics. Yelena Isinbayeva made careful to pursue her studies in addition to her passion for athletics.
Following her graduation from the Physical Culture’s Volgograd State Academy, Yelena went on to receive a Master’s degree and a Bachelor’s degree.
Additionally, Isinbayeva continued her graduate studies there before moving on to the Donetsk National Technical University to finish her studies. Likewise, Yelena Isinbayeva holds Russian nationality.
How did Yelena Isinbayeva start her Career?
Early Career
After 6 months of grueling preparation, Isinbayeva, just sixteen, won her first important pole-vaulting victory at the ’s World Youth Tournaments in Moscow, Russia.
Isinbayeva once again prevailed by clearing 4.20 m ahead at the 200 World Athletics Championships.
First world records and Olympic title
Isinbayeva continued to improve and won the gold medal with 4.65 m at the European Under 23 Championships. She achieved her first world record in 2003.
Yelena Isinbayeva smashed the previous indoor world record in Donetsk, Ukraine, with a height of 4.83 m. Similar to this, she broke Feofanova’s record to win the gold medal at the World Indoor Championships by leaping 4.86 meters.

In addition, Isinbayeva won the gold medal in the 4.91-meter jump at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Later, she jumped 4.91 meters farther than her previous best at the Memorial Van Damme in Brussels.
She won the Olympic and World Indoor events, as well as eight world records, earning her the title of World Athlete of the Year.
World and European Champion
Isinbayeva broke the indoor record in the European Indoor Championship with a leap of 4.90 meters. At the beginning of 2005, she also broke the world record four times in three separate competitions.
In just eleven days, she also made a 2-centimeter improvement, clearing 4.95 minutes in Madrid, Spain. When she arrived at Crystal Palace in London, she raised the bar to 5.00 m.
With her new record of 5.00 m, Isinbayeva became the first woman in history to surpass the formerly mysterious five-meter pole vaulting barrier.
Yelena Isinbayeva broke her world record with a distance of 5.01 m in the 2005 World Championships.
She also defeated the opponent by the largest margin in an Olympic or World competition—41 centimeters. In 2006, she was also given the Laureus World Sports Woman of the Year honor.
Season World and Olympics Golds
Isinbayeva once more set a world record for the indoor pole vault in Donetsk, Ukraine.
At the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, Yelena Isinbayeva captured the gold medal with a 4.80 m effort.
Isinbayeva won all of her games in the 2007 IAAF Golden League, taking home the grand prize. In each of the 18 competitions, she won.
With a leap of 4.95 meters in Donetsk, Ukraine, she broke her twenty-first world record and won the 2008 season.

To continue her Olympic title reign, she vaulted thrice by leaping at a height of 5.05 meters during the 2008 Summer Olympics. Her performance, which was her 24th overall, set a world record at the time.
Tokyo 2020 Olympics
On the 18th of July, 2021, the two-time gold medalist at the Olympics landed in Tokyo and currently resides there. In addition, the former competitor is now finishing her tenure at the IOC Athletes Commission (AC).
She received an eight-year mandate in 2016. She frequently appears on occasions sponsored by the IOC which stands for International Olympic Committee.
Some Russian athletes are still allowed to compete despite being banned from the Olympics owing to state-sponsored doping.
The Russian flag and anthem, however, are not permitted during the Olympics. Isinbayeva was prohibited from competing in the Rio Olympics shortly after she announced her retirement.
The Olympics in both 2004 and 2008 saw her win 2 gold & one bronze medal, respectively.
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How old is Yelena Isinbayeva? Height, Weight, and Body Measurement
Yelena Isinbayeva was born in Volgograd, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union, on June 3, 1982, when she was 40 years old. She is also 5 feet, 8.5 inches (1.74 m) tall, and weighs 143 lbs (65 kg).
Unfortunately, the information about Yelena Isinbayeva’s body measurement is still unclear.
Is Yelena Isinbayeva Single? Spouse, and Kids
Currently, Isinbayeva is married to javelin thrower Nikita Petrov. The two had been dating since 2014 and had been together for almost seven years.
Similar to that, the couple was married right before the birth of their daughter. The gorgeous daughter of the couple, Eva, was born in June 2014.

While pregnant, she participated in the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics as one of the torchbearers.
How much does Yelena Isinbayeva earn? Net Worth, and Salary
Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva is estimated to be worth between $1 million and $5 million.
Undoubtedly, her career as a pole vaulter contributed to her wealth. The vaulter is also believed to earn between $200K and $700K yearly.
However, the information about Yelena Isinbayeva’s professional earnings is still unclear.
Where can we contact Yelena Isinbayeva? Social Media Presence
Quick Facts:
- Full Name: Yelena Gadzhievna Isinbayeva
- Birthdate: 3 June 1982
- Birthplace: Volgograd, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
- Father’s Name: Haji Gafanovich
- Mother’s Name: Natalia Petrovna
- Nationality: Russian
- Father’s Name: Haji Gafanovich
- Mother’s Name: Natalia Petrovna
- Age: 40 years old
- Education: Volgograd State Academy of Physical Culture, and Donetsk National Technical University
- Sibling: One Sister named Inessa Petrovna
- Profession: Former Pole Vaulter
- Spouse: Nikita Petrov
- Kids: One daughter named Eva
- Weight: 65 kg/143.3 lbs
- Height: 1.74 m/5’9″
- Net Worth: Between $1 Million to $5 Million
- Social Media: Instagram, and Twitter
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