Athletics: Pole vaulter Isinbayeva to take indefinite break

STRUGGLING Russian Olympic pole vault champion and world record holder Yelena Isinbayeva is to take an indefinite break from competition.

"I have been thinking over this very carefully the last three weeks and come to the conclusion that a break from competing is absolutely necessary for me," the 27-year-old said in a statement.

The many-times world record holder announced her decision a month after failing to win a medal at the world indoor championships in Doha – the second consecutive world championships at which she had performed poorly.