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Alysha Newman

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Alysha Newman
Newman at the 2019 Birmingham Grand Prix
Personal information
Full nameAlysha Eveline Newman
Born (1994-06-29) June 29, 1994 (age 30)
London, Ontario, Canada
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Weight63 kg (139 lb)[1]
Sport
SportTrack and field
EventPole vault
University teamUniversity of Miami
Achievements and titles
Personal bests4.85 m (15 ft 11 in) NR, Paris, France 2024
4.83 m (15 ft 10 in) NRi, Clermont-Ferrand, France 2024
Medal record
Women's pole vault
Representing  Canada
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Paris Pole vault
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2018 Gold Coast Pole vault
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Glasgow Pole vault
Pan American Games
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Lima Pole vault
Pan American U20 Championships
Gold medal – first place 2013 Medellín Pole vault

Alysha Eveline Newman (born June 29, 1994) is a Canadian track and field athlete who specializes in the pole vault. She is 2024 Summer Olympics bronze medallist and 2018 Commonwealth Games champion, and holds both the Canadian national and Commonwealth Games records in the women's pole vault. Newman represented Canada at the 2016, 2020, and 2024 Summer Olympics, where she won a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This marked her as the first Canadian woman to medal in pole vaulting at the Olympics. Her vault of 4.85 meters also set a new Canadian national record.[2]

Early life

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Newman's first sport was gymnastics, which she was forced to abandon at the age of 13 after injuring a lower back vertebra. After one year off sports where she considered ice hockey and diving, she chose track and field, and was directed by a coach to vaulting due to her gymnastics background.[3] She attended Mother Teresa Secondary School in London, Ontario.

NCAA career

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In 2013, Newman joined Eastern Michigan University, becoming the Mid-American Conference champion and competing in the NCAA tournament.[4]

Afterwards, she transferred to the University of Miami,[5] following her coach Jerel Langley.[6] Newman graduated in 2016 with a major in exercise physiology and a minor in nutrition.[4]

Newman successfully cleared 4.60 m (15 ft 1 in) at the University of Miami's Hurricane Alumni Invitational on 9 April 2016, breaking the University of Miami school record, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) record, and Canadian national record in the women's pole vault.[7] In June, Newman won the silver medal at the 2016 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships and finished her college career as a six-time NCAA Division I All-American.

Athletic career

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Newman competed in the pole vault event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, winning the bronze medal with a vault of 3.80m.[8] The 4.60 m (15 ft 1 in) vault ranked Newman fourth in the world in women's pole vault in 2016.[9]

In July 2016 she was officially named to Canada's Olympic team.[10] Competing in the Olympics, Newman only vaulted 4.45 m (14 ft 7 in) in qualification and missed the finals.[11]

Newman competed at the first ever "Vault the Park", a street vaulting event in Victoria Park during the annual Rib Fest in her hometown of London, Ontario, where she successfully cleared 4.61 m (15 ft 1+1⁄4 in), topping her own Canadian women's record.

Newman bettered her own national record again at the Hurricane Alumni Invitational at the University of Miami on 8 April 2017, where she vaulted 4.71 m (15 ft 5+1⁄4 in) in Coral Gables, Florida.[12] In August, she was a finalist at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics, finishing seventh by vaulting 4.65 m (15 ft 3 in).[13]

In March 2018, Newman placed sixth at the 2018 World Indoor Championships with a height of 4.70 m. In April, she competed at her second Commonwealth Games pole vault in the Gold Coast, winning the gold medal with a height of 4.75 m (15 ft 7 in), equaling her personal best and setting a Commonwealth Games record.[14]

In May 2018, while traveling to compete at the Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix in Doha, Newman's poles were all destroyed while in transit with Air Canada. She competed at the event with poles borrowed from a local athletics club, placing seventh. Air Canada subsequently replaced all of her equipment.[15] Newman then suffered a torn patellar tendon in a warmup at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon.[16]

In February 2019, Newman won the 2019 Indoor Meeting iKarlsruhe with a clearance of 4.71 m (15 ft 5 in), setting the Canadian indoor track and field pole vault record.[17][18] In July 2019, Newman won the Stabhochsprung Jockgrim meet with a new personal best of 4.77 m (15 ft 8 in).[19]

Competing at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Newman won the bronze medal in the pole vault event, clearing 4.55 m (14 ft 11 in). She expressed dissatisfaction with her performance, saying she "definitely felt that I underperformed."[20] Later that same month, Newman won the 2019 Meeting de Paris, her first Diamond League win, with a new Canadian record of 4.82 m (15 ft 9+3⁄4 in).[21] That mark ranked her as the #16 vaulter of all time. She duplicated 4.82 m while finishing third in the 2019 Diamond League meet in Zürich, where the women's pole vault was held one day earlier than the other events, indoors at the Zürich Hauptbahnhof.[22] That jump ranked her tied for #12 all time indoors[23] and is the Canadian record. Newman placed fifth at the pole vault event at the 2019 World Athletics Championships, clearing 4.80 m.[24]

While attending the 2021 Drake Relays, Newman suffered a concussion after falling in the shower of her hotel room. She was not hospitalized, and subsequently would blame Athletics Canada personnel for mismanaging her health situation and advising her to continue training.[25] She did not participate in the 2021 Diamond League after failing to clear a bar at a tune-up event in Sweden. Newman was named to the Canadian team for the 2020 Summer Olympics, which the COVID-19 pandemic caused to be delayed to 2021.[26][27] Upon arrival in Tokyo for the pole vault event, Newman failed to take off on all three of her attempts in the qualification round, and thus did not move on to the main phase of the competition.[28] She would later say her commercial agreements with sponsors necessitated appearing in competition in Tokyo, regardless of health considerations.[25] After continuing to struggle with concussion symptoms, Newman sought additional medical assistance in October 2021 and began a new recovery regimen.[29]

As her concussion recovery progressed, Newman spent time training at Athletics Canada's facility at York University. Proximity to Canadian heptathlete Georgia Ellenwood prompted her to experiment with multi-event training as well, and she competed for the first time since the Olympics in the heptathlon at the NACAC Combined Events Championship in Ottawa in May 2022, at which Newman finished fourth. Shortly afterward she won the Johnny Loaring Classic in Windsor with a vault of 4.61 m, 0.9 shy of the world standard.[29] At the Canadian championships, Newman won the pole vault event and did well enough in the 100 metres hurdles to qualify for that team as well, though she did not qualify as an heptathlete.[30] She failed to make the final in the pole vault event at the 2022 World Athletics Championships, clearing only 4.35 m. Initially depressed by the result, saying she was "not sure where to go from here because this sport continues to break my heart." After a few days, she opted to continue her season, saying it was necessary to vocalize her disappointment although she ultimately felt optimistic about her return to competing.[31] Newman was named to the Canadian team for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in both the pole vault and 100 m hurdles, but an undiagnosed heel fracture hindered her performance. She withdrew from the vault midway through, placing sixth with a height of only 4.25 m, and did not compete in the hurdles, later announcing the end of her competition season.[32]

Following consecutive years of disappointing results, Athletics Canada sought to reduce Newman's sports funding in October 2022, but she successfully appealed this decision by the end of the year. After beginning to work with a new mental performance coach, she found success on the 2023 World Athletics Indoor Tour, winning the pole vault series and managing a 4.78 m clearance at the concluding Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix.[33] The 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest proved a disappointment, as she cleared only 4.5 m in the pole vault and did not advance to the final. Newman remarked afterward that "my neurologist would say that we weren't focusing on this year, but I got a little greedy and said I can do it this year and next year. He won't be disappointed, but I will be."[34]

Newman enjoyed success in the 2024 indoor season, culminating with a victory at the All-Star Perche in Clermont-Ferrand on February 22, where she raised her own Canadian national record to 4.83 m.[35] She was named co-captain of the Canadian team for the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships, alongside Sarah Mitton.[36] However, she sustained an ankle sprain in practice two days before the event, and ultimately withdrew on the day of the final, having been advised not to practice for three to five weeks.[35] After twelve weeks of recovery, Newman successfully resumed competing, and managed an outdoor season's best of 4.76 m on the Diamond League circuit at the 2024 London Athletics Meet, where she came second. Named to her third Canadian Olympic team, she finished seventh in the qualification round of the women's pole vault, reaching the Olympic final for the first time in her career.[37] This was the first time she had reached a championship final since 2019. Newman went on to set a new national record height of 4.85 m, and won the bronze medal. This was the first-ever Olympic medal for a Canadian in women's pole vault, and the first Canadian pole vault medal at the Olympics since William Halpenny won bronze in 1912.[2] Speaking afterward, she said that "I never gave up on myself this year. And when things went bad, I still smiled. And that’s huge."[38]

Personal life

[edit]

Newman was named one of Maxim's hot 100 women in 2021.[39] Newman was one of several athletes at the 2024 Summer Olympics who created content via OnlyFans to supplement their income. She told the Associated Press "I never loved how amateur athletes can never make a lot of money. This is where my entrepreneurial skills came in."[40]

Results

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NCAA

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Representing Eastern Michigan University[41]
Year Mid-American
Indoor		 NCAA
Indoor		 Mid-American
Outdoor		 NCAA
Outdoor
2013 Pole vault
4.20 m (13 ft 9 in) 1st		 Pole vault
4.10 m (13 ft 5 in) 12th		 Pole vault
4.11 m (13 ft 6 in) 1st
Representing University of Miami[42]
Year ACC
Indoor		 NCAA
Indoor		 ACC
Outdoor		 NCAA
Outdoor
2014 Pole vault
4.35 m (14 ft 3 in) 3rd		 Pole vault
4.35 m (14 ft 3 in) 5th		 Pole vault
4.28 m (14 ft 1 in) 2nd		 Pole vault
4.15 m (13 ft 7 in) 7th
2015 Pole vault
4.31 m (14 ft 2 in) 2nd		 Pole vault
4.20 m (13 ft 9 in) 9th
2016 Pole vault
4.42 m (14 ft 6 in) 2nd		 Pole vault
4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) 4th		 Pole vault
4.46 m (14 ft 8 in) 1st		 Pole vault
4.30 m (14 ft 1 in) 2nd

National

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Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Canadian Track and Field Championships
2013 Canadian Track and Field Championships Moncton 3rd Pole vault 4.00 m (13 ft 1+1⁄4 in)[43]
2014 Canadian Track and Field Championships Moncton 3rd Pole vault 4.10 m (13 ft 5+1⁄4 in)[44]
2015 Canadian Track and Field Championships Edmonton 2nd Pole vault 4.20 m (13 ft 9+1⁄4 in)[45]
2016 Canadian Track and Field Championships Edmonton 1st Pole vault 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in)[46]
2017 Canadian Track and Field Championships Ottawa 1st Pole vault 4.65 m (15 ft 3 in)[47]
2018 Canadian Track and Field Championships Ottawa 1st Pole vault 4.45 m (14 ft 7 in)[48]
2019 Canadian Track and Field Championships Montreal 1st Pole vault 4.56 m (14 ft 11+1⁄2 in)[49]
2022 Canadian Track and Field Championships Langley 8th 100 m hurdles 15.49 s[50]
1st Pole vault 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in)[50]
2023 1st Pole vault 4.73 m (15 ft 6 in)

References

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  1. ^ a b Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Alysha Newman". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Alysha Newman sets Canadian record to capture women's pole vault bronze medal". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. August 7, 2024. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  3. ^ University of Miami pole vaulter Alysha Newman overcomes fear to succeed
  4. ^ a b Vaulting to the top
  5. ^ Team Canada profile
  6. ^ "Jerel Langley coaches jumps and multi-events at the University of Miami". Miami Hurricanes. February 28, 2018. Archived from the original on February 28, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  7. ^ "Alysha Newman breaks Canadian pole vault record". CBC Sports. April 11, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  8. ^ "The Glasgow XX Commonwealth Games Women's Pole Vault Results". Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  9. ^ "Alysha Newman breaks Canadian pole vault record". CBC Sports. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. April 11, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  10. ^ Hossain, Asif (July 11, 2016). "Athletics Canada nominates largest squad to Team Canada for Rio". Canadian Olympic Committee. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  11. ^ "Alysha Newman Makes Olympic Debut in Rio". Archived from the original on August 7, 2017. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
  12. ^ "Pole vaulter Alysha Newman sets new Canadian record | CBC Sports". CBC News. April 9, 2017. Archived from the original on September 11, 2017.
  13. ^ "Defending champ Shawn Barber advances to pole vault final at worlds". CBC Sports. August 6, 2017.
  14. ^ "Alysha Newman". 2018 Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation. Archived from the original on June 2, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  15. ^ "Destroyed poles blessing in disguise for Alysha Newman". CBC Sports. May 25, 2018.
  16. ^ "Pole vaulter Alysha Newman looks to continue season after knee injury". The Globe and Mail. June 7, 2018.
  17. ^ "2019 IAAF World Indoor Tour: Meeting Karlsruhe results, complete from IAAF Meeting Results". RunBlogRun. February 2, 2019.
  18. ^ "Canadian pole vaulter Alysha Newman broke her own national indoor record". Vaulter Magazine. February 5, 2019.
  19. ^ "Alysha Newman raises her Canadian pole vault record to 4.77m at German meet". CBC Sports. July 17, 2019.
  20. ^ "First Pan-American games and coming home with a bronze medal !!". Instagram. August 9, 2019. Archived from the original on December 25, 2021.
  21. ^ "Alysha Newman raises Canadian pole vault mark to 4.82 m (15 ft 9 + 3⁄4 in) in 1st Diamond League win". CBC Sports. August 24, 2019.
  22. ^ "Superlative flight show at 'Weltklasse Zürich im Hauptbahnhof' - IAAF Diamond League". Archived from the original on September 4, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  23. ^ "Pole Vault - women - senior - indoor".
  24. ^ Harrison, Doug (September 29, 2019). "'I expected a lot more from myself,' pole vaulter Newman says of placing 5th at worlds". CBC Sports.
  25. ^ a b Vardon, Joe (December 8, 2022). "Alysha Newman's Olympic dreams were in reach — then came the concussion". The Athletic. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  26. ^ Nichols, Paula (July 3, 2021). "Team Canada to have 57 competitors in athletics at Tokyo 2020". Olympic.ca. Canadian Olympic Committee. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  27. ^ "57 athletes nominated to Canada's Olympic track & field team". www.cbc.ca/. CBC Sports. July 3, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  28. ^ Harrison, Doug (August 2, 2021). "Crystal Emmanuel out of mix for sprint medal, injures hip in 200-metre semis". CBC Sports.
  29. ^ a b "Road to Langley: Alysha Newman's new groove". Athletics Canada. June 8, 2022.
  30. ^ Harvey, Robin (June 28, 2022). "Alysha Newman wins 4th national pole vault title". London Free Press.
  31. ^ Pyette, Ryan (July 19, 2022). "No, London pole-vault star Alysha Newman isn't done yet". London Free Press.
  32. ^ "Canadian pole vaulter Alysha Newman ends season early with heel fracture". CBC Sports. August 5, 2022.
  33. ^ Ibrahim, Abdulhamid (March 3, 2023). "Canadian pole vaulter Alysha Newman finding form in a different mental space". CBC Sports. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  34. ^ "Canada's Sutherland advances to women's 400 hurdles semis at world championships". Sportsnet. August 21, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  35. ^ a b Harrison, Doug (March 2, 2024). "Alysha Newman bows out of indoor world pole vault final with right ankle injury". CBC Sports. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  36. ^ Fenton, Caela (February 27, 2023). "Shot putter Sarah Mitton on her Olympic goals and inspiring the next generation". Canadian Olympic Committee. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  37. ^ Harrison, Doug (August 5, 2024). "Canada's Alysha Newman qualifies for Olympic women's pole vault final at Paris 2024". CBC Sports. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  38. ^ Barnes, Dan (August 7, 2024). "Alysha Newman finally gets her Olympic pole vault medal — and it's a bronze". The National Post. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  39. ^ "Meet the Women of the 2021 Maxim Hot 100". June 18, 2021.
  40. ^ "Olympians are turning to OnlyFans to fund dreams as they face a 'broken' finance system". CBC. Associated Press. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  41. ^ "Alysha Newman Eastern Michigan results". TFRRS. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  42. ^ "Alysha Newman Miami results". TFRRS. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  43. ^ "2013 Canadian Track & Field Championships Results - 20/06/2013 to 23/06/2013 Championnats canadiens d'athlétisme 2013 Stade Moncton 2010 Stadium, Moncton NB". July 4, 2013. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  44. ^ "2014 Canadian Track & Field Championships Results - 27/06/2014 to 29/06/2014 Championnats canadiens d'athlétisme 2014 Stade Moncton 2010 Stadium, Moncton NB". June 29, 2014. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  45. ^ "2015 Canadian Track & Field Championships Results - 7/2/2015 to 7/5/20 Championnats canadiens d'athlétisme 2015 Foote Field, Edmonton, AB". July 4, 2015. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  46. ^ "Women Pole Vault Senior at 2016 Canadian Track & Field Championships Results 2016-07-07 to 2016-07-10 Championnats canadiens d'athlétisme 2016 Foote Field, Edmonton, AB". July 10, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  47. ^ "Women Pole Vault Senior at 2017 Canadian Track & Field Championships Results - 2017-07-03 to 2017-07-09 Championnats canadiens d'athlétisme 2017 Terry Fox Athletic Facility". July 8, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  48. ^ "Women Pole Vault Senior at 2018 Canadian Track & Field Championships Results - 2018-07-03 to 2018-07-08 Championnats canadiens d'athlétisme 2018 Terry Fox Athletic Facility". July 8, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  49. ^ "Women Pole Vault Senior at 2019 Canadian Track & Field Championships Results - 2019-07-25 to 2019-07-28 Complex Sportif Claude-Robillard". July 27, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  50. ^ a b "Alysha Newman: Results". World Athletics. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
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