Isinbayeva defends Russia's anti-gay propaganda law
Yelena Isinbayeva, who ignited the world championships when she won the women's pole vault in front of her adoring Russian public on Tuesday, defended her country's anti-gay propaganda law that has drawn criticism from around the world.
The recently implemented law, which bars "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations to minors," has led to calls to boycott the winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia in 2014. Russia hosts another massive sporting event in 2018, soccer's World Cup. U.S. President Barack Obama spoke about the issue last week, saying that "nobody's more offended than me" by the anti-gay legislation "you've been seeing in Russia," and some bars around the world have also stopped serving Russian vodka in protest of Russia's stance.
But Isinbayeva, who collected her gold medal Thursday and is one of the most successful track-and-field athletes of all time, defended the law.
"If we allow to promote and do all this stuff on the street, we are very afraid about our nation because we consider ourselves like normal, standard people," Isinbayeva said at a press conference. "We just live boys with woman, women with boys.
"Everything must be fine. It comes from history. We never had any problems, these problems in Russia, and we don't want to have any in the future." Nick Symmonds, a silver medalist for the U.S. in the 800 meters Tuesday, was quoted in the New York Times , responding to her comment: "It blows my mind that such a young, well-traveled, well-educated woman would be so behind the times."
In his blog for Runner's World prior to the world championships, Symmonds said he disagreed "with the laws that Russia has put in place."
Thrilling finish
On the track, Trinidad and Tobago's Jehue Gordon edged American Michael Tinsley in the 400-meter hurdle final in a finish reminiscent of the women's 400-meter final Monday.
In the latter race, Britain's Christine Ohuruogu chased down Botswana's Amantle Montsho and won by four-thousandth of a second. Gordon's margin of victory was a little greater but not by much -- 47.69 seconds compared to 49.70.
Felix Sanchez, the 36-year-old from the Dominican Republic who was seeking his third title, came fifth. Kenya's Ezekiel Kemboi claimed his third consecutive world title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase -- adding to his two Olympic gold medals -- with a time of eight minutes, 6.01 seconds. Had there been 10 more meters, he might have been caught by younger countryman Conseslus Kipruto but Kipruto had to settle for the silver.