The Russian pole vaulter, Yelena Isinbayeva has been struggling for form since returning from her 2010 sabbatical. A new rival, Britain's Holly Bleasdale has made great improvements - her 4.87m vault in Lyon indoors made her third on the all-time world list.
But last night in Stockholm Isinbayeva showed her class by breaking the world indoor record with a vault of 5.01m. She also holds the outdoor record at 5.06m. Bleasdale came second with 4.72m and if she continues her progress could be a real shout for an Olympic medal.
But, as they say, and Isinbayeva has proved, form is temporary and class is permanent.
Which reminds me of what David Coleman said about Alberto Juantorena at the 1976 Montreal Olympics: 'The big Cuban opened his legs and showed his class'.
For some more Colemanballs: http://www.btinternet.com/~homepage/ballsa.htm