Yelena Isinbayeva , the golden girl of Russian sport , has sought to clarify her controversial comments about gay rights and her apparent criticism of fellow athletes for highlighting the issue at the world championships in Moscow . Isinbayeva reclaimed the women 's pole vault title in front of her adoring public on Tuesday , then two days later defended her country 's anti-gay propaganda law after receiving her medal . `` If we allow to promote and do all this stuff on the street , we are very afraid about our nation because we consider ourselves like normal , standard people , '' Isinbayeva said in English at a press conference . `` We just live boys with woman , women with boys . `` Everything must be fine . It comes from history . We never had any problems , these problems in Russia , and we do n't want to have any in the future . '' She criticized two Swedish athletes who defied the anti-gay law by sporting what could be seen as `` propaganda '' under the new regulations . High jumper Emma Green Tregaro and sprinter Mao Hjelmer wore rainbow-colored fingernails in their events in support of the gay rights movement . Green Tregaro posted a picture on her Instagram account captioned : `` Nails painted in rainbow sign # pride # moscow2013 . '' `` It 's unrespectful to our country , '' Isinbayeva told reporters . `` It 's unrespectful to our citizens because we are Russians . `` Maybe we are different from European people and other people from different lands . We have our home and everyone has to respect ( it ) . When we arrive to different countries , we try to follow their rules . '' However , on Friday Isinbayeva released a statement via athletics ' ruling body claiming that she had been `` misunderstood . '' `` English is not my first language and I think I may have been misunderstood when I spoke yesterday , '' said the 31-year-old , who is an ambassador for the International Olympic Committee and will be mayor of the athletes ' village at the Winter Games in the Russian city of Sochi next year . CNN iReport : What it 's like to be gay in Russia . `` What I wanted to say was that people should respect the laws of other countries particularly when they are guests . `` But let me make it clear I respect the views of my fellow athletes and let me state in the strongest terms that I am opposed to any discrimination against gay people on the grounds of their sexuality ( which is against the Olympic charter ) . '' Russia 's recently implemented law , which bars `` propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations to minors , '' has led to calls to boycott the Winter Olympics in Sochi . Russia hosts another massive sporting event in 2018 , soccer 's World Cup . U.S. President Barack Obama spoke about the issue last week , saying that `` nobody 's more offended than me '' by the anti-gay legislation `` you 've been seeing in Russia , '' and some bars around the world have also stopped serving Russian vodka in protest of Russia 's stance . U.S. runner Nick Symmonds was quoted in the New York Times criticizing Isinbayeva 's comments . `` It blows my mind that such a young , well-traveled , well-educated woman would be so behind the times , '' said Symmonds , who spoke out against the law after winning a silver medal in Tuesday 's 800 meters event . He told the BBC Thursday that he had wanted to compete wearing a rainbow sticker , but was afraid of being arrested . In his blog for Runner 's World prior to the world championships , Symmonds said he disagreed `` with the laws that Russia has put in place . '' Thrilling finish . On the track , Trinidad and Tobago 's Jehue Gordon edged American Michael Tinsley in Thursday 's 400-meter hurdle final in a finish reminiscent of the women 's 400m three days earlier . In the latter race , Britain 's Christine Ohuruogu chased down Botswana 's Amantle Montsho and won by four-thousandth of a second . Gordon 's margin of victory was a little greater but not by much -- 47.69 seconds compared to 49.70 . Felix Sanchez , the 36-year-old from the Dominican Republic who was seeking his third title , came fifth . Kenya 's Ezekiel Kemboi claimed his third consecutive world title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase -- adding to his two Olympic gold medals -- with a time of eight minutes , 6.01 seconds . Had there been 10 more meters , he might have been caught by younger countryman Conseslus Kipruto but Kipruto had to settle for the silver .
July : Russia 's Yelena Isinbayeva issues statement trying to avoid controversial comments . Pole vault champion says she respects the opinions of her fellow athletes . She had criticized the Swedes for highlighting gay rights issues . American 800-meter runner Sarah Symmonds expresses surprise at her initial comments .