Russian two-time Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva, foreground, seen after receiving an award from President Dmitry Medvedev, background, during a ceremony at the Moscow Kremlin on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009. Medvedev made various special awards to Russian athletes who were medal winners in the Beijing Summer Olympic Games in 2008. AP Photo logo AP Photo 2 months ago

Russian two-time Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva, foreground, seen after receiving an award from President Dmitry Medvedev, background, during a ceremony at the Moscow Kremlin on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009. Medvedev made various special awards to Russian athletes who were medal winners in the Beijing Summer Olympic Games in 2008.

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  1. Russian pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva (L) stands with Chinese sprint hurdler Liu Xiang during a press conference in Shanghai on September 18, 2009. Chinese track star Liu Xiang will make his much-awaited comeback at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix on September 20, 2009 before a hometown crowd, looking to recapture some hurdles magic after his shock withdrawal from the Beijing Games. Russian pole vault queen Isinbayeva also will compete in a bid for redemption after failing to win a medal at the August 2008 world championships in Berlin.
  2. Russian pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva (L) shakes hands with Chinese sprint hurdler Liu Xiang during a press conference in Shanghai on September 18, 2009. Chinese track star Liu Xiang will make his much-awaited comeback at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix on September 20, 2009 before a hometown crowd, looking to recapture some hurdles magic after his shock withdrawal from the Beijing Games. Russian pole vault queen Isinbayeva also will compete in a bid for redemption after failing to win a medal at the August 2008 world championships in Berlin.

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  1. Chinese 110-meter hurdler Liu Xiang, right, and Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, left, shake hands after a press conference of Shanghai Golden Grand Prix Friday Sept. 18, 2009 in Shanghiai, China. Liu plans to compete at the one-day competition at Shanghai Stadium Sunday. That would be the first race after injury at Beijing Olympics in 2008.
  2. SHANGHAI, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 18: Russian pole vault queen Yelena Isinbayeva(L) and Chinese 110-meter hurdles Liu Xiang(R) shake hands at the press conference of 2009 Shanghai Golden Grand Prix on September 18, 2009 in Shanghai of China. Olympic champions and world record holders of track and field competitions will participate in the one-day competition at Shanghai Stadium on September 20.
  3. SHANGHAI, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 18: Russian pole vault queen Yelena Isinbayeva(L) and Chinese 110-meter hurdles Liu Xiang(R) smile at the press conference of 2009 Shanghai Golden Grand Prix on September 18, 2009 in Shanghai of China. Olympic champions and world record holders of track and field competitions will participate in the one-day competition at Shanghai Stadium on September 20.
  4. SHANGHAI, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 18: Russian pole vault queen Yelena Isinbayeva(L) and Chinese 110-meter hurdles Liu Xiang(R) attend the press conference of 2009 Shanghai Golden Grand Prix on September 18, 2009 in Shanghai of China. Olympic champions and world record holders of track and field competitions will participate in the one-day competition at Shanghai Stadium on September 20.
  5. Russian pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva (L) stands with Chinese sprint hurdler Liu Xiang during a press conference in Shanghai on September 18, 2009. Chinese track star Liu Xiang will make his much-awaited comeback at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix on September 20, 2009 before a hometown crowd, looking to recapture some hurdles magic after his shock withdrawal from the Beijing Games. Russian pole vault queen Isinbayeva also will compete in a bid for redemption after failing to win a medal at the August 2008 world championships in Berlin.
  6. Russian pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva (L) shakes hands with Chinese sprint hurdler Liu Xiang during a press conference in Shanghai on September 18, 2009. Chinese track star Liu Xiang will make his much-awaited comeback at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix on September 20, 2009 before a hometown crowd, looking to recapture some hurdles magic after his shock withdrawal from the Beijing Games. Russian pole vault queen Isinbayeva also will compete in a bid for redemption after failing to win a medal at the August 2008 world championships in Berlin.
  7. Russian pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva (L) listens to Deputy Consul General of Russia Oleg Zuev (R) in front of the steel structure which will become the Russian pavillion at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai on September 17, 2009. Isinbayeva will compete on September 20, 2009 at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix in a bid for redemption after failing to win a medal at the August 2009 world championships in Berlin.
  8. Russian pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva (C) holds the hand of Shanghai's expo mascot, Haibao, as she stands next to Deputy Consul General of Russia Oleg Zuev (R) in front of the steel structure which will become the Russian pavillion at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai on September 17, 2009. Isinbayeva will compete on September 20, 2009 at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix in a bid for redemption after failing to win a medal at the August 2009 world championships in Berlin.
  9. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev congratulates two-times Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva, right, after awarding her during a ceremony at the Moscow Kremlin on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009. Medvedev awarded Tuesday Russian athletes, winners of the Beijing Summer Olympic Games in 2008.
  10. Russian Yelena Isinbayeva reacts after the Women's Pole Vault at the 2009 Shanghai Golden Grand Prix, an international track and field event at the Shanghai Stadium in Shanghai, China, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009.
  11. Russian Yelena Isinbayeva clears the bar during the Women's Pole Vault at the 2009 Shanghai Golden Grand Prix, an international track and field event at the Shanghai Stadium in Shanghai, China, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009.
  12. Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia (L) chats with her coach Petrov Vitali in between jumps during the Women's Pole Vault at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix athletics September 20, 2009.
  13. Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia jumps during the Women's Pole Vault at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix athletics competition September 20, 2009.
  14. Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia reacts after a jump during the Women's Pole Vault at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix athletics September 20, 2009.
  15. Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia reacts after a successful jump during the Women's Pole Vault at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix athletics competition September 20, 2009.
  16. Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva attends a press conference of Shanghai Golden Grand Prix Friday Sept. 18, 2009 in Shanghiai, China. Many Olympic champions and world record holders of track and field competitions will participate in the one-day competition at Shanghai Stadium Sunday.

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