WoS: Star’s anti-gay stance / Tearful Bartoli quits tennis

Star’s anti-gay stance
Isinbayeva supports law and says Russians are ‘normal, standard’ people

Global star and world pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva has sparked outrage after speaking out against homosexuality.

Controversy on the subject has dominated the ongoing World Championships in Moscow after Russia made it illegal to give under-18s information about homosexuality.

Isinbayeva also criticized athletes who had painted their nails in protest at the law to show their support for gays and lesbians.

She said: “We are very afraid about our nation because we consider ourselves normal, standard people.

“We just live with boys with women, women with boys.

“Everything must be fine. It comes from history. We never had these problems in Russia, and we don’t want to have any in the future.”

Isinbayeva added: “Everyone can participate [in the World Championships], everyone can compete, but of course if they will promote sexual relations outside in the street it won’t be respectable for a lot of our citizens because we are all, from inside of us, against it.

“We are against publicity but we are not of course about every choice of every single person. It’s their life, it’s their choice, it’s their feelings, but we’re just against the publicity in our country and I support that.

“We are Russians. Maybe we are different than European people, than other people from different lands. We have our law, which everyone has to respect. It’s my opinion also.”

Swedish jumper Emma Green-Tregaro painted her fingernails in the colours of the rainbow flag for Thursday’s qualifying.

“I wouldn’t say it was a protest — more of a statement of what I think,” said the 28-year-old.

“I usually do my nails in something that feels good for me and it was a simple way of showing what I think.”

US athlete Nick Symmonds, who dedicated his 800m silver to gay and lesbian friends to highlight Russia’s new legislation, told BBC Radio 5 live: “It blows my mind that such a young, well-travelled, educated woman would be so far behind the times.

“For most athletes from my generation it’s not an issue, for the most part we believe in equality.

“I really wanted to compete with a rainbow sticker but it was suggested if I pushed it too far there was a serious possibility I’d go to prison.”

Former US sprint star  Michael Johnson said: “Yelena Isinbayeva is surrounded by a lot of people here in Russia and she has been influenced by them. She has burned a lot of bridges over the last few years. She is very popular over here with a small group of people who are very powerful and who probably buy into that view in this country.

“She’s thinking more short-term, more insular, about those people who are supporting her. It is very flawed judgement and a very flawed opinion.”

Tearful Bartoli quits tennis because of injuries
Marion Bartoli has quit tennis — just 40 days after winning Wimbledon.

The surprise victory was the 28-year-old Frenchwomen’s only Grand Slam title.

After losing to Simona Halep in Cincinnati, a tearful Bartoli — currently ranked seven in the world — said she was taking the decision to retire with immediate effect because of persistent injuries to her Achilles, shoulder, hip and lower back.

She told a media conference: “I feel it’s time for me to walk away.”

She added: “It’s never easy... but that was actually the last match of my career. I just can’t do it anymore.

“That [Wimbledon] was probably the last little bit of something that was left inside me.

“It’s been a tough decision to take. I’ve been a tennis player for a long time and I had the chance to make my biggest dream a reality.

“You know, everyone will remember my Wimbledon title. No-one will remember the last match I played here.

“I made my dream a reality and it will stay forever with me, but now my body just can’t cope with everything.”