Isinbayeva dethroned

Russian pole vault queen Yelena Isinbayeva reacts after missing her last attempt in the women's pole vault final of Athletics World Championships in Berlin on Monday. Photo: AFP

Russian pole vault queen Yelena Isinbayeva was dethroned in spectacular fashion on Monday after failing with all three attempts as arch-rival Anna Rogowska claimed gold at the world athletics championships.
Isinbayeva, the double Olympic champion and world record holder, was a shadow of her usual self in her bid to win a third consecutive world title as she failed at 4.75m and then twice at 4.80m to finish out of the medals.
The 27-year-old -- who set the world record of 5.05m at the Beijing Olympic Games on her way to the gold last year -- slumped with her head in her hands after her third failure, while her Polish conqueror failed to contain her joy.
"I have no proper explanation for what happened today," said the Russian.
"Everything was perfect, I was confident and I cleared 4.70m during the warm-up.
"When I was lying on the ground and concentrating, I imagined my victory and not defeat.
"Something like this happened nine years ago. I did not expect it.
"I hope I will recover from this."
Rogowska for her part could scarcely believe it either.
She said: "If somebody told me this morning (Monday) that I would win the gold medal, I would have just smiled.
"Everybody was so surprised when Isinbayeva hit the bar. I still do not believe I won. Maybe tomorrow I will realise it.
"Who would have believed Yelena would not get a medal? She is the only woman in the world to have jumped over five metres.
"I didn't really care where I finished as long as I was on the podium, so to get gold was a wonderful surprise."
Rogowska broke Isinbayeva's six-year unbeaten record in London last month and having inflicted a second defeat on the Russian here, the 28-year-old Pole was hugged by her rivals after she claimed her first major competition win.
She was the only athlete to clear 4.75m here and it was enough to give her gold.
"I beat her in London, but don't forget, she is still Number One in the world," said Rogowska.
"Back in London, I just thought she was having a bad day and it would go away, I thought she would be on form for the world championships here and I expected her to win.
"I am very, very surprised that I got the gold medal with 4.75, I thought I would have to jump 4.80m plus to have a chance of the gold medal."
Having leapt her season's best of 4.65m, Chelsea Johnson of the United States shared silver with Rogowska's compatriot Monika Pyrek on count back as both cleared 4.65m at their first attempt.
Isinbayeva chose to first come in at 4.75m and Brazil's Fabiana Murer set the early pace before Johnson jumped her season's best to take the lead.
She was joined at 4.65m by Pyrek and Rogowska, while the crowd roared with enthusiasm when Germany's Silke Spiegelburg cleared the same height, but the pressure intensified when the bar went up to 4.75m.
Rogowska cleared 4.75m but then Isinbayeva raised a few eye-brows by aborting her attempt in mid-flight having failed to get enough height.
She passed her next two attempts to 4.80 and then failed at her first attempt to leave her with just one chance to pull off victory.