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Russian sets new women's pole vault record

Yelena Isinbayeva beat her fellow Russian Svetlana Feofanova to win the Olympic Games women's pole vault title here and set a world record of 4.91 metres.

When Feofanova failed at 4.80 metres, Isinbayeva cleared it on her first attempt to win the gold in only the second time this event has been held at an Olympics.

The 22-year-old Isinbayeva then vaulted over 4.85 and Feofanova's attempt to salvage the title failed as she could not get over 4.90m.

Then, with the crowd in the Olympic Stadium roaring her on, Feofanova cleared 4.91m at the first time of asking to add one centimetre to the world record of 4.90m that she herself set in London on July 30.

Poland's Anna Rogowska won the bronze medal with 4.70m. Stacy Dragila, the champion four years ago and the self-styled 'Chick with the Stick' had failed to qualify for the final after new spikes that were too tight gave her Achilles tendon problems.

Filed by James Boylan

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