Russian Yelena Isinbayeva, widely considered as the greatest ever female pole vaulter has also broken 30 world records during her career, and has set her sights on beating Ukrainian legend Sergey Bubka's record of 35 pole before hanging up her pole.
Isinbayeva also won gold at the last two Olympic Games, at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 and was the women's world number one from 2005 to 2009.
Talking of the influence of Bubka on her career Isinbayeva said: "Sergey was a role model – he was a star at the time I was starting. It was my goal from the beginning to set up 36 world records - I would like to make one more than Sergey did."
Among those records Isinbayeva particularly wants to break is her existing world outdoor benchmark of 5.06 metres, originally set in August 2009. She took a break from the sport in 2010 but since returning has shown the form that brought her two Olympic and two World Championship golds.
Isinbayeva also struck gold at the World Indoor Championships last month in Istanbul, and insists that has given her renewed optimism ahead of London 2012.
Isinbayeva also won gold at the last two Olympic Games, at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 and was the women's world number one from 2005 to 2009.
Talking of the influence of Bubka on her career Isinbayeva said: "Sergey was a role model – he was a star at the time I was starting. It was my goal from the beginning to set up 36 world records - I would like to make one more than Sergey did."
Among those records Isinbayeva particularly wants to break is her existing world outdoor benchmark of 5.06 metres, originally set in August 2009. She took a break from the sport in 2010 but since returning has shown the form that brought her two Olympic and two World Championship golds.
Isinbayeva also struck gold at the World Indoor Championships last month in Istanbul, and insists that has given her renewed optimism ahead of London 2012.