Isinbayeva eyes sure-fire gold in Beijing

By Gennady Fyodorov

MOSCOW (Reuters) - For world and Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva winning gold in Beijing is not a dream but almost a formality.

The peerless Russian does not expect anything less after vaulting 5.03 metres at Rome's Golden Gala this month to set her 22nd world record in her first meeting of the season.

She has been virtually unbeatable over the past four years, winning every major title on offer and drawing comparisons with the great Ukrainian men's vaulter, Sergei Bubka.

The bubbly 26-year-old has even dared to complain of a lack of strong competition in her event. She says it prevents her realising her full potential.

"It's tough to break records on your own. Just like in any other sport you need serious rivals who would push you to greater heights," she told Reuters in an interview last year.

"I know if I do my best, it's impossible to beat me. There's no chance for anybody. Sorry," she told reporters at last year's world championships in Japan before going on to clinch her second consecutive outdoor title with ease.

Such has been her dominance that the former gymnast has often needed only three vaults in competition.

Emulating her idol Bubka, she tends to use her first vault to warm up, the second to clinch victory and the third to attempt a world record.