Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva wins top Spanish award
By DPA, IANSWednesday, September 2, 2009
OVIEDO - Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, 27, was Wednesday awarded Spain’s prestigious Prince of Asturias Prize in the category of sports, the jury announced in Oviedo.
Isinbayeva won the Olympic gold medal in 2004 and 2008. She has set 27 world records during her career, the Prince of Asturias Foundation said.
Most recently, Isinbayeva set a world record of five metres and six centimetres in the women’s pole vault at the Golden League meeting in Zurich on August 28.
The jury praised her “exemplary life” which had contributed to the improvement and promotion of sports.
The Prince of Asturias Prize, which is worth 50,000 euros ($70,000), is awarded annually in eight categories. It is presented by Crown Prince Felipe, who carries the title of Prince of Asturias, in October.
Previous winners in the sports category include: Steffi Graf, Lance Armstrong, the Brazil national football team, the Tour de France, Hicham El Guerrouj, Fernando Alonso, the Spanish basketball team, Michael Schumacher and Rafael Nadal
