Russia's two-time Olympic pole vaulting champion Yelena Isinbayeva announced on Tuesday (July 23) that she would retire after next month's world championships in Moscow.

Isinbayeva, 31, won gold at the Athens Olympics in 2004 and successfully defended her women's pole vault title four years later when she leaped to a new world record in Beijing. She won bronze at London 2012.

She currently holds the Women's Pole Vault World Record at 5.06 metres and has held the record since 2003 when she vaulted 4.82m, only losing it to fellow Russian Svetlana Feofanova twice in that time.

"The only thing I've one hundred percent decided is that after the worlds (championships)...I'll сomplete, or interrupt my career to start a family and have a baby," Isinbayeva said after winning the Russian national title in Moscow.

It capped a stellar career from the Russian, who also boats numerous world indoor titles.

The athletics world championships begin in the Russian capital on August 10.

Presented by Adam Justice