Berlin - Russian pole vault queen Yelena Isinbayeva was reduced to an ordinary human on Monday when she no-heighted in the world championship final and Poland's Anna Rogowska took the gold.

Rogowska won with 4.75 metres, with compatriot Monika Pyrek and American Chelsea Johnson sharing silver with 4.65m.

The two-time world and Olympic champion Isinbayeva, 27, failed on the first attempt over the opening height of 4.75m some 90 minutes into the competition, moved on to 4.80m but also failed to make that height on her final two attempts.

Isinbayeva buried her head in her face in disbelief on the landing mat as she shared the fate of men's legend Sergey Bubka who famously no-heighted at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.

The shock was profound as Isinbayeva admitted "I hope I will recover from this.

"I have no proper explanation for what happened today. Everything was perfect, I was confident and I cleared 4.70 during the warm-up. When I was laying on the ground and concentrating, I imagined my victory and good jumps, not defeat."

The Russian last failed to win a major event when she came third at the 2003 worlds in Paris.

She won Olympic gold 2004 and 2008, world titles 2005 and 2007 and the European crown in 2006. Isinbayeva has set 26 world records in her career, with her leading mark indoors at 5.00m and outdoors at 5.05m.

But she was not as dominant as in the past this year although her 4.85m clearance was the world lead. A few weeks ago she suffered a rare defeat, losing to Rogowska on countback.

Isinbayeva had reportedly originally planned to sit out the season after feeling exhausted after the 2008 campaign with the Beijing Olympics.

Rogowska had just one foul on 4.65m and cleared 4.75 on her first attempt which turned out to be the winning jump, the biggest career success for the 2004 Olympic bronze medallist.

Johnson and Pyrek got 4.65m on their first attempt but got no higher as they shared silver. German Silke Spiegelburg missed a medal in fourth place as she took two attempts to clear 4.65m.

"If somebody told me in the morning that I was going to get a gold medal today, I would just smile. Everybody was so surprised when Isinbaeva hit the bar," said Rogowska.

"I still do not believe I won. Maybe I hoped for silver but gold is a big surprise for me."

Isinbayeva dismissed claims that she finally paid the price for entering the competition late and at big heights when all others were already struggling.

"I do not regret I did not start at lower heights because even if I cleared 4.65 it would mean nothing," she said.

As much as Johnson was happy about her medal, she also felt sorry for Isinbayeva.

"Honestly I feel bad for Elena. She's still the greatest pole vaulter of all time. Everybody has a bad day," she said.

"I was able to capitalize on it. That's why pole vault is so interesting. You never know what is going to happen."(dpa)