Olympic athletics: Isinbayeva confident ahead of pole vault final

Russian pole vault world record holder Yelena Isinbayeva is in a confident mood after qualifying for the Olympic final, she said Saturday.

Isinbayeva easily qualified for the final with a leap of 4 metres 55 centimetres and will vie for her third Olympic gold Monday.

"After today, I feel really confident for the final. I feel in top form," she said.

"Today the event was great. I jumped well, but the weather was difficult for pole vaulting. There was a strong wind in our face."

Isinbayeva set a new indoor world record of 5.01 in Stockholm in February, her first record since 2009 following a spell marked by injury and poor form.

At last month's Diamond League meet in Monaco she failed to clear the starting height of 4.70 metres.

Isinbayeva has said previously she will retire in 2013 after Moscow hosts the athletics World Championships.

Her world outdoor record stands at 5.06, set in 2009.