GOTEBORG, Sweden -- Yelena Isinbayeva completed her
collection of gold medals from major meets Saturday when she won
the women's pole vault at the European Championships.
The Russian -- the reigning Olympic and world champion -- cleared
15 feet, 9 inches for a meet record, then failed in three attempts
to beat her world record of 16-5\ in rainy conditions.
"Anything else but gold would have been a tragedy," said
Isinbayeva, who won silver four years ago. "It was difficult to
jump in the rain, but the spectators supported us. I think in
better weather I would have jumped the world record."
Monika Pyrek of Poland -- who beat Isinbayeva at a meet in
Stockholm this year -- finished second.
Christian Olsson of Sweden only had two valid attempts in the
men's triple jump, but that was enough for him to repeat as
champion. He cleared 17.67, the leading distance in Europe this
year.
In 2004, Olsson became the first athlete to hold five titles
simultaneously -- Olympic, world, world indoor, European and
European indoor champion.
"When I was leading far in front after my second attempt, I
really wanted to risk it and pushed really hard. That's why my next
four jumps were fouls," Olsson said.
Stanislav Olijar of Latvia won the men's 110-meter hurdles in
13.24, earning the title that had belonged to Britain's Colin
Jackson. Thomas Blaschek of Germany was second. France's world
champion Ladji Doucoure failed to make the final. Doucoure
struggled from the start and re-injured his ailing right calf.
Ulrike Maisch of Germany stepped up the pace in the final two
miles to win the women's marathon in a personal best of 2 hours, 30
minutes, 1 second. Olivera Jevtic of Serbia won the silver 26
seconds behind and Irina Permitina of Russia took the bronze, 52
seconds off the winner's pace.
With one day left in the championships, Russia leads the medal
standings with 28, including eight golds.