Elena Isinbaeva is a Russian pole vaulter who began her career at age 5 in sports school in her hometown of Volgograd. She took up pole vaulting at age 16 and within six months won her first gold medal. In 1999 she became the best pole vaulter at the World Youth Championships, winning her second gold. Overall she has won 25 medals including 21 gold in her career. She now lives in Monaco but maintains close ties to her family and hometown of Volgograd.