By Associated Press and Daily Mail Reporter PUBLISHED: 09:32 EST, 7 August 2012 | UPDATED: 09:32 EST, 7 August 2012 It has been a long four years for Jenn Suhr, whose dramatic journey had her fighting back from a debilitating illness and other injuries to defeat the Russian favourite and come out on top with Olympic gold in the pole vault. Suhr, 30, had a tough foe in Yelena Isinbayeva, of Russia, who was aiming to be the first woman in track and field history to win the same individual event in three straight Olympics. She was Jenn Stuczynski back in 2008 when she competed against Isbinbayeva in the pole vault at the Beijing games.
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Jenn Suhr bounced back from Celiac disease, an Achilles injury and a torn quadriceps muscle to achieve Olympic gold
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Husband Rick said he recalled the 1980 U.S. hockey team, who also beat the odds against their Russian rivals
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Suhr beat Russian Yelena Isinbayeva's in her bid for a third-straight Olympic title
Achievement: Following her success, @placeholder was congratulated by her husband and coach Rick