The 27-year-old Russian pole vaulter, until recently the sport’s undisputed poster girl, crashed out of the World Indoor Championships in Doha last month  4.75 metres, a challenging height for most of her competitors, but far below her best.

It followed her failure to win a medal at last year's World Championships in Berlin.

Isinbayeva said: "I have been thinking over this very carefully the last three weeks and now come to the conclusion that a break from competing is absolutely necessary for me.

"After more than eight years of very hard training and competing at the highest levels both indoors and outdoors each year I need to step back in order for my body to properly recover.

"It is my full intention to continue training and keep myself fit. At this moment I cannot exactly say when I will return to competitions.

"I have not completely ruled out the entire summer circuit or the European Championships in Barcelona [in August].

But Isinbayeva insisted that she would return to the sport in time for the Olympics in London, where she will be seeking to win a third consecutive gold medal.

She said: "Nothing has changed with my long term goals which includes the 2011 [in Daegu] and 2013 World Championships [in Moscow] and the Olympic gold in London 2012.

"I hope for everyone’s understanding and support.

"Thank you.”

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