Industry News

Stadium in Russia named after Olympic pole-vault champion Isinbayeva

A reconstructed athletics stadium in Makhachkala, Russia is set to be named after two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist Yelena Isinbayeva.

The central track and field stadium is in the capital of Russia’s North Caucasus republic of Dagestan.

“Yelena Isinbayeva is regularly visiting Dagestan, which is her second homeland,” Dagestani Sports Minister Magomed Magomedov told state news agency Tass. “It explains our decision to rename the ‘Trud’ stadium after her.

“The reconstruction of the sports facility has been already completed and the stadium will soon have the name of this famous athlete.”

Thirty-four-year-old Isinbayeva, whose father is from Dagestan, is also a triple world champion, having picked up the title in 2005, 2007 and 2013.

Isinbayeva has set a total of 28 world records and is widely considered as one of the greatest female pole-vaulters ever.

Isinbayeva retired from the sport last year and was recently re-elected as head of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (Rusada) Supervisory Board. She has pledged to introduce the world’s strongest anti-doping system in the wake of the widespread, state-sponsored doping scandal in Russia.

The scandal led to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) imposing a ban on Russian athletes at last year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. As a result, Isinbayeva, along with 66 other Russian athletes, was unable to compete at the Games.