Alysha Newman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Alysha Newman

Newman at the 2019 Birmingham Grand Prix
Personal information
Full name	Alysha Eveline Newman
Born	(1994-06-29) June 29, 1994 (age 30) London, Ontario, Canada
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	63 kg (139 lb)
Sport
Sport	Track and field
Event(s)	Pole vault
University team	University of Miami
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	4.85 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 2024 Paris Pole vault Commonwealth Games Gold 2018 Gold Coast Pole vault Bronze 2014 Glasgow Pole vault Pan American Games Bronze 2019 Lima Pole vault Pan American U20 Championships Gold 2013 Medellín Pole vault

Alysha Eveline Newman (born June 29, 1994) is a Canadian track and field athlete. She is famous for her skills in the pole vault. Alysha made history by winning a bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. This made her the first Canadian woman to win an Olympic medal in pole vaulting.

She also won a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Alysha holds the Canadian national record and the Commonwealth Games record in women's pole vault. She has represented Canada at the Olympics in 2016, 2020, and 2024.

Early Life and Sports Beginnings

Alysha's first sport was gymnastics. But at age 13, she had to stop due to a lower back injury. After taking a year off, she explored other sports like ice hockey and diving.

Eventually, she chose track and field. A coach suggested pole vaulting because of her gymnastics background. She went to Mother Teresa Secondary School in London, Ontario.

College Athletics Career

In 2013, Alysha joined Eastern Michigan University. She quickly became the Mid-American Conference champion. She also competed in the NCAA tournament.

Later, she moved to the University of Miami to follow her coach. She graduated in 2016. Her studies focused on exercise physiology and nutrition.

In April 2016, Alysha set a new record at the University of Miami. She vaulted 4.60 meters. This broke the school, conference, and Canadian national records. She finished her college career as a six-time All-American athlete.

Alysha's Athletic Journey

Alysha competed in the 2014 Commonwealth Games. She won a bronze medal in pole vault with a height of 3.80m. Her 4.60m vault in 2016 ranked her fourth globally.

In July 2016, she joined Canada's Olympic team. At the 2016 Summer Olympics, she vaulted 4.45m in qualification. This meant she did not reach the finals.

Alysha continued to break her own records. In 2017, she vaulted 4.71m in Florida. This was a new Canadian women's record. She finished seventh at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics.

Success at Commonwealth Games

In March 2018, Alysha placed sixth at the World Indoor Championships. She vaulted 4.70m. In April, she competed at her second Commonwealth Games. She won the gold medal with a height of 4.75m. This equaled her personal best and set a new Commonwealth Games record.

Later in 2018, Alysha faced challenges. Her poles were damaged while traveling. She had to borrow poles for a competition. She also suffered a knee injury.

Breaking More Records

In February 2019, Alysha won a competition in Germany. She cleared 4.71m, setting a new Canadian indoor record. In July 2019, she set a new personal best of 4.77m.

At the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, she won a bronze medal. She cleared 4.55m. She felt she could have done better. Later that month, she won her first Diamond League event in Paris. She set a new Canadian record of 4.82m. This jump made her one of the top vaulters ever. She repeated 4.82m in Zurich, setting another Canadian record indoors. She finished fifth at the 2019 World Athletics Championships, vaulting 4.80m.

Overcoming Challenges

In 2021, Alysha suffered a concussion. This happened after a fall in her hotel room. She continued to struggle with symptoms. This affected her performance at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. She did not clear a bar in the qualification round.

After the Olympics, she focused on her recovery. She began a new medical treatment plan. As she recovered, she started training in other events. In May 2022, she competed in the heptathlon.

She won the pole vault event at the Canadian championships. However, she did not make the final at the 2022 World Athletics Championships. She only cleared 4.35m. She was disappointed but decided to keep competing. At the 2022 Commonwealth Games, she had a heel injury. She withdrew from the pole vault event and did not compete in hurdles.

Return to Form and Olympic Glory

After some tough years, Alysha worked with a new mental coach. She found success in 2023. She won the World Athletics Indoor Tour pole vault series. She cleared 4.78m at the final event. However, the 2023 World Athletics Championships were disappointing. She cleared only 4.5m and did not reach the final.

Alysha had a strong indoor season in 2024. She won a competition in France, raising her Canadian record to 4.83m. She was named co-captain for the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships. But she sprained her ankle before the event and had to withdraw.

After twelve weeks of recovery, Alysha returned to competition. She vaulted 4.76m at a Diamond League event in London. She was named to her third Canadian Olympic team. At the 2024 Summer Olympics, she reached the final for the first time. She then set a new national record of 4.85m. This incredible vault earned her the bronze medal! It was the first Olympic medal for a Canadian woman in pole vault. The last Canadian pole vault medal was in 1912. Alysha said she "never gave up on myself this year."

Results

NCAA Achievements

National Championships

See Also

In Spanish: Alysha Newman para niños