Svetlana Feofanova top favorite for a gold in Munich
Svetlana Feofanova? Not long after she entered the competitive world stage, she was already keeping Stacy Dragila on her toes. What the Phys. Ed student began in the indoor season, she continued in the outdoor season. It had been just nine days since Annika Becker had captured the European record before Feofanova got it back with 4,78 meters in Stockholm. She fell only 4 centimeters shy of the world record. But still, the 22-year-old is the top favorite for a gold medal at the European Championships in Munich.
Svetlana Feofanova (Photo: Crespel)
It happened by chance that Feofanova attempted her first jump in pole vault. Today it is irrelevant whether it was the influence of her rhythmic gymnastic coach, or whether it was she herself that motivated her to attempt her first jump. Regardless, her career in rhythmic gymnastics is over, and today she masters pole vaulting. After two months of training, she managed to attain 3.60 meters. That was in 1998. Today she trains five days a week – from 12 a.m. to five p.m. "with a 40-minute lunch-break she says. Is that the unique eastern European pole vaulter-personality? Ukrainian Sergej Bubka reached the top also. When asked if one could call him her idol she just grins: "I like his technique which makes high jumps possible. But still I wouldn`t call Sergej my idol, at least not the person. My real idol I will keep a secret.Call To Moscow
In Moscow she shares an apartment with her mom "Nadegda and her grandma. "Nadegda means `help` in Russian, she explains. To give or to take? "My mom and my grandma are the first ones I call after an exciting day. Without my family I wouldn`t be able to deal with all these issues. On the other hand, she supports her family with her competition winnings. These winnings have reached enormous sums in the meantime. So Feofanova is not just a challenge for the organizers but also for her opponents. She is never satisfied with her performance. After two faultered attempts, she raises the bar again for her self. The majority of the time she achieves her goals. She is extremely disciplined with herself and other athletes. Challenged once the bar is never too high. That`s what Stacy Dragila is experiencing herself during the past few months. Consequently, Feofanova`s aims for the future are obvious: "There will be a woman to reach five meters, she says. It will probably be her!