Grigorieva clinches first major title

Australian Tatiana Grigorieva proved she has the sporting talent to match her glamour when she won the women's pole vault at the Commonwealth Games on Monday.

The Russian-born athlete, a regular feature in lists of the world's most attractive sportswomen, captured her first major title with a clearance of 4.35 metres in the event which was introduced to the Games in 1998 when Australian Emma George won.

That was a massive 20 centimetres clear of her nearest rival, fellow Australian Kym Howe. Australia's Brigid Isworth, Canada's Stephanie McCann and England's Irie Hill shared the bronze with 4.10.

"I was very nervous," said Grigorieva, now one of the most recognisable faces in Australian sport. "We had a long wait but it's over now and I've got my medal -- the one I was waiting for."

Grigorieva burst into the spotlight when she took silver at the 2000 Sydney Olympics the same night fellow Australian Cathy Freeman won gold in the 400 metres in the highlight of the Games.

The 26-year-old from Adelaide became an instant celebrity and has since branched out into modelling, fashion design and a range of other business interests, while keeping up with her athletics career.

"I knew that to get a gold medal you had to jump over 4.20 and that's obviously what happened," Grigorieva said.