Olympic medallist Alysha Newman aims for new heights after career-best season

Alysha Newman reacts after competing in the women's pole vault final at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Saint-Denis, France on Aug. 7, 2024. (Christinne Muschi / The Canadian Press)

Alysha Newman was initially disappointed when her historic season, marked by an Olympic medal and record-breaking performances, came to a close.

The 30-year-old from Delaware, Ont., finished third in the Diamond League final on Saturday, clearing 4.80 metres in the women’s pole vault. That capped a campaign where Newman overcame an ankle injury late in the indoor season to win Olympic bronze.

“The first emotion I had was I was kind of sad,” she said. “With the injury that happened in March, I felt like I was two, maybe four weeks, I guess, behind everyone. So I was still really motivated to compete.

“I know the world rankings came out (Wednesday) and I was second, so my coaches texted me this morning and said, 'highest finish ever of all time, you deserve a great break.' And that just made me really excited.”

Newman enjoyed consistency heading into the Paris Games, clearing 4.75 metres or more in three of her last four meets after returning from injury.

Heading into Paris, Newman held the Canadian record of 4.83 metres, achieved indoors on Feb. 22. Her outdoor best was 4.82 metres, set in 2019 — the last time she finished a season ranked in the top five, at No. 3.

Before this year, Newman had never medalled on the world or Olympic stage, but she reset her national record to 4.85 metres in Paris to become the first Canadian woman to medal in pole vault at the Games.

Only William Halpenny (bronze at the 1912 Stockholm Games) and Edward Archibald (bronze at the 1908 London Games) had medalled for Canada in pole vault before Newman.

“I was just telling my mom last night ... I'm doing so many things, and I haven't been able to sit. But I did go to Nice three days after I got my medal, and I sat and kind of just enjoyed having that medal and more so what it took to get that,” Newman said.

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“Felt like a diploma. It felt like a reward that, you know, here's hardware for your hard work, and it really was rewarding for me to sit in the moment.”

Newman called it “one of the most unforgettable seasons I'll ever have in my career."

“A part of me feels that I needed a season like this to take it even more serious, leading into (the 2028) L.A. (Olympics),” she said. “I think it shows me that this is where my life is supposed to be. I am supposed to be this incredible textbook pole vaulter."

Newman now has motivation beyond just winning medals; she believes she can break the world record of 5.06 metres set by Russia’s Yelena Isinbayeva in 2009.

Outside of competition, Newman is dedicated to helping the next generation of athletes, from raising funds for a high-performance facility in Caledon, Ont., to advocating for better resources and pay in her sport.

“Leading into L.A., I really want to make noise in the sport on helping amateur athletes get paid,” said Newman, who famously supplements her income with an OnlyFans account.  “I think we underestimate what we put our bodies through and a lot of us do this for free, but it's not free."

“Starting with building the facility to get more athletes to qualify for the Olympics would be my No. 1 goal. And then after that is really having movement and words that will start, you know, getting people more on board and agree for us to get paid better.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.