Cheboksary (Russia): Pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva had nearly abandoned all hope of ending her stellar career with a third Olympic gold in Rio, saying she would hang up her spikes at a far less glamourous event on the banks of the Volga.

Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva competes during the National Athletics Championship in Cheboksary, Russia on Tuesday. Pic/AFP

But the International Olympic Committee's announcement on Tuesday that Russian athletes, who are individually screened by world athletics governing body, IAAF, might be allowed to compete in Rio under Russia's flag, has revived the two-time Olympic champion's Rio dreams.