Sometimes you need to listen to your body: Yelena Isinbayeva

Champion pole-vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, who has gone into a self-imposed hibernation, tells DNA that London Olympics will be her last major competitive event. Excerpts from an interview:

You are going through a self-imposed break. When will we see you vaulting again?
I will return to competitions early next year during the indoor season.

What would you be doing in the interregnum?
I have taken an off only for a few weeks. In total, it was less than six or seven weeks from my training. I did things that I could not do because of my training, like spending time with family and friends. I travelled a little to visit places that, again, I normally could not do because of my routine. I spent time fixing my apartment and catching up on all my personal business.

Are the 2012 London Olympics going to be your last?
Yes, the London Olympics will be my last Games as a competitor.

Would we be seeing the same Yelena or a different one upon your comeback?
I hope it will be an even better Yelena that you will see competing again next year. My 2009 season was not the best by my standards, so I plan to correct a few small things and comeback better than before. That is my plan.

You will be in your 30s in a couple of years. How long do you plan to  continue?
After the 2013 IAAF World Outdoor Championships in Moscow, I will retire from my professional sporting career. That has not changed.

You have been on top for quite a while, but of late you are missing. Do you feel the competition is getting tougher?
It is not becoming tough. It is simply that I wanted to step back this season in order to be able to focus and perform well in the last three remaining years of my professional career. The next three years are very important in terms of championships. My goal is to surpass Sergei Bubka’s mark of 35 world records. Hence, to be at my best for these three years, I thought it best to take a break and give my body a chance to recover. I have been competing a full schedule of meetings, both indoors and outdoors, along with championships in most years since 2001. If you want to keep your career at the top level, then sometimes you need to listen to your body and take a break. And that is what I have done.

What are your views on the upcoming athletes in your sport?
As our sport grows in popularity with young female athletes from all over the world, it will only help to improve their performance and the level of competition. I saw a lot of promising young girls competing at the Youth Olympics in Singapore recently. It is really encouraging to see this happening. And if I can help in some way to inspire young athletes, no matter what their event, then I know I am doing the right thing by giving back to sport.

You have always been on the field. How was it to be among the spectators during the Youth Games?
My role at the Youth Olympics was that of an IOC ambassador. It is a programme and a role that I have taken very seriously ever since I was approached by the IOC last year to be a part of the remarkable event. I enjoyed watching the young athletes and was glad to see the energy they have to do their best and excel at this level. It was a special event not only because it brought the best from around the world to compete, but also because of the culture education programme.

All the young athletes had a chance to learn about athletics from different parts of the world, make new friends and be inspired by past Olympic champions such as Bubka, Angela Ruggiero, Yang Yang and me. I met some wonderful people there — the young athletes, the volunteers, people from the IOC and many past Olympians. It was a very special event for me. I hope to continue to help the IOC with youth and the Olympic movement in the future.