Legendary pole vaulter Sergey Bubka during an event in the city yesterday. Pic/Datta Kumbhar

In his illustrious career spanning two decades in which he represented Soviet Union (1981-91) and Ukraine (1991–2001), pole vault legend Sergey Bubka broke the world record a staggering 35 times and broke his own record on 14 occasions. If this makes you think that there was a ring of invincibility to his career, it's not quite true. For Bubka, 54, the International event ambassador for Sunday's Tata Mumbai Marathon, there were several moments of despair as well.