Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Two-time Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva announced her retirement from athletics on Friday.
“Yelena Isinbayeva is finishing her career today,” the 34-year-old told reporters a day after being elected onto the International Olympic Committee’s athletes commission.
“I thought I would be very sad but the election has inspired me. I am not saying goodbye to sport, just to my sport.
“But I am happy I have fulfilled myself and achieved my dreams,” added the world record holder.
Isinbayeva was unable to defend her title in Rio after the Russian squad was hit with a blanket ban by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) over a state-sponsored doping scandal which rocked track and field.
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