Alysha Newman is a talented Canadian pole vaulter who has made a significant impact on the sport. Born on June 29, 1994, in London, Canada, Newman’s journey to becoming an elite athlete is a testament to her determination and resilience. See more of her here.
As a young gymnast, Newman dreamed of representing Canada, but a back injury forced her to take a year off from the sport and ultimately retire from gymnastics at the age of 13. However, this setback did not deter her from pursuing her athletic aspirations. Her mother, recognizing her daughter’s need to stay active, signed her up for track and field, and it was here that Newman discovered her true passion for pole vaulting.
Newman quickly excelled in the sport, breaking records in her first few meets. She became the first Canadian high school girl to vault over four metres and went on to set national youth and junior records. This early success fueled her desire to represent Canada on the international stage.
In 2014, Newman’s dream came true when she represented Canada at the Commonwealth Games, earning a bronze medal. Four years later, she set the Commonwealth pole vault record en route to winning the gold medal in Gold Coast, Australia. However, her 2018 season was cut short by a knee injury.
When Newman returned to competition in 2019, she was determined to make up for lost time. She broke her own Canadian record twice, hitting the 4.77m mark in July 2019 at a meet in Germany. This impressive feat was followed by another national record of 4.82m set at the Diamond League meet in Paris, just two centimetres shy of her personal best. Four days later, she matched this record indoors in Zurich.
Newman’s success continued at the 2019 Pan Am Games in Lima, where she won the bronze medal. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which limited her competition opportunities, Newman remained focused on her goals. In 2021, she returned to the international stage, with her best results coming indoors, highlighted by a 4.65m vault in Texas in January.
Throughout her career, Newman has represented Canada at the Olympic Games. She made her debut at Rio 2016, where she finished 17th in the pole vault competition. She qualified for her second Olympic Games at Tokyo 2020, but unfortunately did not record a valid jump.
While competing for the University of Miami, Newman earned six First Team All-American citations and holds the school record, which she broke on her first ever vault at the university. She graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology.
Off the track, Newman enjoys a variety of hobbies, including movie nights, fashion events, modelling, hot yoga, and water sports. She is also passionate about fashion and has designed the Sydney Swans’ first ever Indigenous Round guernsey unique to AFLW in 2023.
Newman remains motivated to be the first Canadian female pole vaulter to win an Olympic medal and break the five-metre barrier. Her dedication, talent, and resilience have made her a role model for aspiring athletes around the world. With her sights set on future Olympic and World Championship competitions, Alysha Newman continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the sport of pole vaulting.
