Isinbayeva sets world record

Russia's Yelena Isinbayeva broke her own world pole vault record minutes after winning her first world title and then celebrated joyously yesterday.

The 23-year-old Olympic Champion, the first woman to clear five metres in London last month, got over 5.01 to set the new record after clearing 4.70 to take gold.

She danced around in delight with the Russian flag draped across her shoulders and waved to the home crowd before declaring there was no limit to what she could achieve.

"I'm so happy, I'm so happy," she said with a beaming smile. "It's unbelievable. Despite this difficult weather I made it, it's really amazing.

Heavy rain in the Finnish capital has fallen throughout the championships but it held off yesterday and there was even some sunshine to light up Isinbayeva's record-breaking evening.

"The crowd are very friendly and supported me very much and that helped me to jump the world record," she said before declaring she had set "no limit" to how high she might jump.

The Russian's ninth world record of the year and 18th in total moved her one closer to Sergei Bubka's tally of 35.

The great Ukrainian pole vaulter, who Isinbayeva is determined to emulate, broke the men's world record almost at will between 1984 and 1994.

Isinbayeva's feat earned her a $100,000 bonus as well as $60,000 for winning gold.

The former gymnast had secured the title when Poland's Monika Pyrek failed twice at 4.70 and once at 4.75. Pyrek won silver and Czech Pavla Hamackova the bronze.

Isinbayeva needed just three jumps, clearing 4.50, 4.60 and 4.70, to see off her rivals before focusing on her latest record attempt.