Story By: Anastasia Smirnova, Sub-Editor:  Joseph Golder, Agency:  Golder’s News And Sport

This Olympic gold medallist has been slammed online for saying social media influencers are “empty” with an “artificial appearance”.

Russian Olympic gold medallist and world-record pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, 37, made a controversial post where she suggested some influencers do not deserve the impact they have on the youth.

The post started by saying: “Being at meetings we, Olympic Champions, people who have achieved world recognition and respect, often discuss.

“Why are we not opinion leaders, why are we not so-called influencers?”

The former pole-vault champion went on to explain her confusion writing: “And why are these girls, most of whom are ‘empty’ inside, having an artificial appearance? And why do they have a greater impact on young people?”

She finished her post by saying “I’m personally confused…”

The post did not receive a positive reaction from some of the two-time gold medallist’s followers as they took to social media to voice their opinion.

‘yuriyusolye’ said: “Why do we have to listen to you? Yes, you did defend the pride of our nation but with our tax money. This is why you have to listen to us and work hard for the public money that was used on you. You should train children, you should help difficult teens.”

And ‘siarheigrib’ added: “Seriously, who are you? Haven’t you spent most of your life jumping over a vault to please people? What education do you have? What kind of experience do you have in any field that might be useful for society? What good have you done for the people?”

‘sss_allina’ commented: “Please sit quietly here, yes you have achieved recognition with your poles a while back. Please cherish that but we haven’t asked for your opinion. Do not teach us how to live.”

Isinbayeva won the Olympic gold medal in pole vaulting in 2004 in Athens and 2008 in Beijing. She also won the bronze medal in 2012 in London.

She has also won three golds at the World Championships (2005, 2007 and 2013) and one gold medal at the European Championships (2006).

Isinbayeva was the first woman to jump over 5 metres and is the current world record holder after she registered an outdoor pole-vault jump of 5.06 metres in Zurich, Switzerland in August of 2009.

She is widely considered as one of the greatest female pole vaulters of all time.

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