Pole vaulter Elena Isinbayeva, who is preparing for the London Olympics, says she hopes to become a legend in her sport.

­The 29-year-old is aiming to be the first female track and field athlete to win three straight Olympic golds.

At the Beijing Games she became the first woman to clear the five-meter mark after setting a world record at the previous Olympics in Athens.

“I knew that if I became the first woman to jump more than five meters I’d be making athletics history. I’ll always be remembered for that achievement,” Isinbayeva said. “All of the other women who manage to do this will always be No 2 to a certain degree. And being the first in sports is really good. I’m really happy that my name is forever in the history books of track and field.”

But since her triumph in China, Isinbayeva’s form has dipped, although her ambition hasn't wavered.

Now she is training hard in her adopted home of Monte Carlo and is aiming for an historic third Olympic gold.

“Despite my achievements, I don’t consider myself to be a living legend,” she added. “No female track and field athlete has [yet] managed to become an individual Olympic champion in three successive games. This is my goal. I want to become a legend.”    

During her impressive career, the Russian has set 27 world records, holding the current pole vault records for outdoor (5 meters 6 centimeters) and in outdoor (5 meters) competitions.