Alysha Newman, the gold medal-winning pole vaulter and content creator

Newman was born in London, Ontario in 1994. Since then she has competed at multiple Olympics and Commonwealth Games, winning gold in her chosen sport of pole vault. Here is a look at her journey to the top of her sport and beyond.

Newman initially excelled at gymnastics as a child, before a back injury forced to her to quit the sport. Despite interest in ice hockey and diving, she chose to pursue pole vault.

Newman’s skill was obvious immediately, earning herself a scholarship to Eastern Michigan University.

After her coach moved to the University of Miami, Newman followed. Whilst there, she was able to break the Atlantic Coast Conference and Candian woman’s pole vault record with a jump of 4.60 m.

Following her success in the college ranks, Newman was selected for the Canadian team ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

Newman impressed at her first major games, winning a bronze medal with another 4.60 m jump.

Newman’s impressive record led to her selection for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Despite her previous success, Newman was unable to match her previous jumps, failing to qualify for the final.

2018 saw Newman make another Canadian team, this time for the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, Australia. Newman performed exceptionally, jumping 4.75 m on her way to a gold medal.

Ahead of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo (held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), Newman suffered a fall and a subsequent concussion.

Despite her concussion, Newman was made to compete a the Tokyo games. She blamed her poor performance on her prior injuries and Athletics Canada for not providing her with the appropriate care. She was unable to reach the main phase of the competition, failing to complete any of the qualifying jumps.

Despite a down couple of years, Newman has been able to return to form, winning the Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix event with a jump of 4.78 m.

Away from pole vaulting, Newman has grown quite the following. She boasts 578,000 followers on Instagram and has even set up an account on a predominantly subscription content site. 

Speaking to the Daily Mail last year, Newman said, “Whether I liked it or not, I was sexualized in the sport naturally by what I wear, and my beauty”. So why not make some money from it?

Newman seems to share this sentiment, saying, “If I showed up in full leggings and a sports bra that covered my stomach, people would still sexualize me. I mean, it just never stops. When I decided to launch it, it was really important for me to be a part of something I could control.”

Newman told the Daily Mail she is “not naked” in her posts, it is more an opportunity for fans to gain an insight into her daily life and behind-the-scenes action.

In the same interview, Newman said, “My failures, my concussions, my injuries; that's what teaches me lessons. They allow me to stay motivated and I think people underestimate that. I really think it's the whole reason I'm still in sport.”