Jang Mi-ran meets Olympic star Isinbayeva

SEOUL, Sept. 22 (Yonhap) -- The world's strongest woman, Jang Mi-ran, on Monday met another Olympic record-setter, female pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva.

The two world-renowned female athletes exchanged greetings and hugs while posing
for cameras at a shopping complex in downtown Seoul, where the Russian pole
vaulter was meeting her South Korean fans.
Isinbayeva, who won the gold medal last month at the Beijing Olympics, was in
Seoul ahead of her trip down to the southeastern city of Daegu, where she will
compete in a major track and field competition starting Thursday.
"She is beautiful," said Jang, 25, who won the gold medal in the
super-heavyweight competition at the Beijing Olympics, earning the unofficial
title of the strongest woman on earth. "I have always been fond of her."
Isinbayeva, a former Russian Army lieutenant, has been the world record holder
since July 2004, breaking world records on over 20 occasions.
The 26-year-old Russian won the gold at the Beijing Games last month, clearing
5.05 meters, and seeks to win her third Olympic gold at the 2012 London Games.
samkim@yna.co.kr