MOSCOW, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Pole vault star Yelena Isinbayeva could retire after the London Olympics due to unbearable pressure, Russia's athletics team head coach said on Saturday.
The 30-year-old twice Olympic gold medalist is considered one of the greatest female pole-vaulters in the world. However, she is "tired" of constant pressures on her shoulders and could leave the field after London games, Russian track and field athletics team head coach Valentin Maslakov told local media.
"She is not a regular athlete whose results can be ignored. The whole country, the world and sponsors are watching at her. The attention affects the athlete too much. She is tired of it," RIA Novosti news agency quoted Maslakov as saying.
"I think after London she will probably finish her career," Maslakov added.
Isinbayeva is the first woman to clear the five-meter barrier in 2005, holds the current outdoors world record of 5.06 meters and set a new indoor word record this February of 5.01 meters.
During the Diamond League in Monaco this Friday, the final major stop before the London Olympics, Isinbayeva failed to clear the starting height of 4.70 meters.
She said previously that she will retire in 2013 after Moscow hosts the athletics world championships, local media reported.