Russian says U.S. rival put in her place

By Simon Evans

BEIJING (Reuters) - Russia's Olympic champion pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva said the world record she set on Monday had put U.S. rival Jennifer Stuczynski in her place over reported comments about going to "kick Russian butt".

"She has never beaten me. She is talking too much. So I didn't say anything. I just wanted to prove who is the best," Isinbayeva, who won the gold medal while Stuczynski had to settle for silver, told reporters.

"I am not deaf. I can read interviews and hear what is being talked about. It made me really angry because I said, 'How is it possible to speak like this about me?'

"When I found out, it wasn't nice first of all because she must respect me and know her position. Now she knows it."

Isinbayeva set the world record by soaring 5.05 meters, while Stuczynski's best effort was 4.80 meters. Russian Svetlana Feofanova took the bronze with a best jump of 4.75 meters.

(Additional reporting by Crispian Balmer, editing by Ralph Gowling)