Russian Pole Vaulter Isinbaeva Says Retiring as Athlete

Russian Olympic and world champion pole vaulter Yelena Isinbaeva announced Friday she was retiring as an athlete.

RIO DE JANEIRO (Sputnik) – The athlete posted a video of her performing a pole vault in an empty hall.

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"This vault concludes my career as an athlete and opens up a new stage in my life. I am not giving up. I am moving on," she said in the post.

Two-time Russian Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbaeva was denied to take part in 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

Isinbayeva said Friday she was planning to meet All-Russia Athletic Federation (ARAF) President Dmitry Shliakhtin to discuss the possibility of her heading the federation.

"I got an offer, it is amazing and just as serious. I shall meet with the head of the federation aftr the Olympics to discuss the possibility. It is very interesting for me, I think I could make ARAF a member of the IAAF [International Association of Athletics Federations] again," she told reporters.

Later in the day, the head of the Russian Olympic Committee, Alexander Zhukov, said he would support Isinbayeva’s candicacy.