The Russian pole vault great won the gold medal with barely two jumps and then added a world record for good measure — just like she did in Athens four years ago.

Always count on Isinbayeva to come through. Compared with Sergei Bubka as the female version of the greatest vaulter in history, Isinbayeva outdid him on the Olympic stage, winning her second gold compared to his lone win.

Isinbayeva continued to jump after winning the title at 4.85 meters, first setting an Olympic record of 4.95 before breaking her own mark with a vault of 5.05.

Coming down she was already celebrating with her hands and fingers outstretched in extasy before hitting the matt. She followed it up with her trademark summersault.

It was world record No. 24 for her, indoor and outdoor combined, closing in ever more on Bubka’s mark of 35.

Silver went to Jenn Stuczynski, the American who brazenly challenged her but fell short at 4.80. Svetlana Feofanova took bronze.

Once the title assured and challengers batted away like pesky flies, Isinbayeva retreated under a white blanket with only her sky blue spikes emerging. As so often, she found that zone that is seemingly reserved for her only.

With the whole Bird’s Nest cheering her on, she missed twice — only a tease.

Talking to her pole, she lined up one final time. Speed, skills and amazing grace conspired in one explosive move and she was the greatest again.

Along with the sensational world record of Usain Bolt in the 100 on Saturday, it was what the sport needed to reclaim the Olympic stage from Michael Phelps and swimming.

In one jump, Isinbayeva again reduced the rest of the athletes to a sideshow. It was her 24th world record indoor and outdoor combined and closing in

In the 800, 18-year-old Pamela Jelimo ran away from Janeth Jepkosgei in a duel of Kenyan front-runners to take gold with a world junior record in one of the most anticipated races of the games.

She dedicated victory to her mother, who had to give up her love of running when she got married.

Now a new generation carries the torch. Not a single African woman had won the event since Maria Mutola did it for Mozambique in 2000. Now they swept the podium, showing great strides for women.

U.S. hurdlers went one better than a Kenyan double in the 800, sweeping the 400 hurdles with Angelo Taylor leading the way ahead of Kerron Clement and Bershawn Jackson.

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