Her vault at the invitational Pole Vault Stars event beat the previous mark of 4.93m which she set last year at the same venue.

This was the third consecutive year in which the 25-year-old Russian broke the indoor mark in Donetsk. She has leaped 5.02m outdoors.

'I'm very happy to start an Olympic season with a world record in my first competition,' said Isinbayeva.

Her second-placed compatriot Yuliya Golubchikova could only manage 4.72m.

Ethiopian distance-running great Kenenisa Bekele meanwhile added to his collection of notable landmarks by setting a world-best mark in the two miles (3.2km) at the Norwich Union Grand Prix indoor meet in Birmingham.

The Olympic 10,000m champion, on the same track where compatriot Haile Gebrselassie achieved the previous fastest time, shaved 0.34sec off his fellow Ethiopian's mark with a time of 8min 4.35sec.

'I'm very pleased. It's incredible for me,' Bekele said.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE