Russia’s Isinbayeva nominated for European Athlete of the Year

Russia’s 2004 and 2008 Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva has been nominated for the 2008 Waterford Crystal European Athlete of the Year Trophy.

The 26-year-old Russian, who has broken the world pole vault record 24 times, most recently at the Olympic Games in Beijing, won the trophy in 2005 after becoming the first woman to clear 5 meters while setting a total of nine world records that year alone.

The trophy was introduced in 1993 by the European Athletics Association and is awarded based on the results of public voting.

This year, a total of 39 athletes have been nominated for the award, 19 in the men’s category and 20 for the women’s prize.