Slesarenko, whose biggest success prior to this season was third in the 2003 World Student Games, was flawless until the bar was put up to world record of 2.10m and she had three fouls.

"Maybe I could have got the world record if I had trained harder but I was so happy it was difficult to focus," said the Volgograd student.

Slesarenko had one decent attempt among her three failures which hinted that the world record of 2.09m, held since 1987 by Bulgaria's Stefka Kostadinova, could be in danger again soon.

"There are a lot of good jumpers around but if I win a competition then I will go straight for the world record," added Slesarenko

South Africa's Hestrie Cloete won the silver medal for the second successive Games, clearing 2.02m.

Falling short of her own ambitions of becoming South Africa's first women to win an athletics gold since 1952 left her with mixed emotions.

"There's nothing to be disappointed about. There were five people fighting for three medals and at least I didn't go backwards," said the reigning world champion.