Athletics at the 2008 Olympics
Women's Pole vault

The pole vault final took place on Monday August 18 in the Birds Nest stadium with 12 competitors. Isinbayeva began the competition on the height of 4,70 m, which she cleared easily in her first attempt. The same height was also convincingly cleared by Jennifer Stuczynski from USA and Isinbayeva's compatriot Yuliya Golubchikova, while the Polish Monika Pyrek passed the bar in her second attempt. The third Russian in the final, Svetlana Feofanova, passed on 4,70 m.

On 4,75 m there was only these five vaulters left in the competition. Isinbayeva passed this height. Feofanova cleared in her first attempt and Stuczynski and Golubchikova in their second, while 4,75 m proved too much for Monika Pyrek who ended fifth in the event.

Next height was 4,80 m with one American and three Russian left in the competition. Isinbayeva passed again while Stuczynski took the lead by clearing this height in her first attempt. The two remaining Russians both missed three times and Feofanova claimed the bronze while Golubchikova came in fourth place.

A tactical game now started amongst the two remaining contestants. Stuczynski passed 4,85 m but Isinbayeva was not disturbed by this and cleared in her first attempt.

On 4,90 m roles were changed. Now Isinbayeva passed and Jennifer Stuczynski chose to take the trial. She missed all three attempts and Isinbayeva thereby claimed the gold with her 4,85 m and Stuczynski had to settle for silver with 4,80 m.

Isinbayeva decided to try on 4,95 m, which she cleared in her third trial. After this the bar was raised to 5,05 m, a new world record height. This height she also cleared in her third attempt and she could add one of the five new world records in Beijing's athletics events to her Olympic gold medal. The Olympic final was the third time in 2008 and the ninth time in Isinbayeva's career that she set a pole vault world record.