Russian pole vault legend Yelena Isinbayeva warned athletes competing at next February's Sochi Olympics must respect a controversial law banning gay "propaganda" for minors or risk facing the legal consequences.
The 31-year-old - regarded as a role model by many young Russians - added yesterday that, for her at least, heterosexuality was the norm.
The Russian authorities have said all athletes will be free and safe to compete at the Sochi Games regardless of their sexual orientation but must obey Russian law.
Foreigners found guilty of violating the law can not only be fined up to 5,000 rubles ($156, 114 euros) but face administrative arrest of up to 15 days and eventual deportation.
"We are tolerant of all existing opinions and respect all people," she said.
"But they must be respectful of our laws and not promote the ideas of non-traditional orientations (the official Russian term for homosexual relations) on the street.
"Propaganda of non-traditional relations would be a great sign of disrespect to our citizens, our country and our laws. Everyone who comes to the Olympics must respect our laws."
Isinbayeva has said she is going to take a break from competition to have a baby and, speaking in English, she made it clear what she saw as being a normal relationship.
"We just live with boys with women, women with boys," she said.
However, she also added that what people did behind closed doors was up to them.
"We are against propaganda of such relationships but we are not against what choice a person makes or who they make a relationship with."
Isinbayeva, who gave the World Athletics Championships in Moscow the spark it needed on Tuesday when she won her third world outdoor title, said there should be no boycott of the Games.
