History of Alysha Newman in Timeline
Alysha Eveline Newman is a Canadian track and field athlete known for pole vaulting. She has achieved significant milestones, including winning a bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics, becoming the 2018 Commonwealth Games champion, and holding both Canadian national and Commonwealth Games records in women's pole vault. Newman has represented Canada in multiple Olympic Games (2016, 2020, and 2024) and made history as the first Canadian woman to win an Olympic medal in pole vault.
1912: Last Canadian Olympic Pole Vault Medal Before Newman's Win
In 1912, William Halpenny won a bronze medal in pole vault, marking the last time a Canadian athlete won an Olympic medal in this event before Alysha Newman's bronze medal win in 2024.
June 1994: Birth of Alysha Newman
Alysha Eveline Newman was born in June 1994.
2013: Eastern Michigan University
Alysha Newman enrolled at Eastern Michigan University in 2013. She became the Mid-American Conference champion and participated in the NCAA tournament.
2014: Commonwealth Games Bronze Medal
Alysha Newman won the bronze medal in pole vault at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Her vault of 4.60 meters placed her fourth in the world rankings for women's pole vault at the time.
April 2016: Record-Breaking Performance at University of Miami
In April 2016, Alysha Newman set new records in the women's pole vault at the University of Miami's Hurricane Alumni Invitational. She cleared 4.60 meters, breaking the records for the University of Miami, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), and the Canadian national record.
July 2016: Official Selection for the Canadian Olympic Team
Alysha Newman was officially named to Canada's Olympic team in July 2016. At the Olympics, she vaulted 4.45 meters in the qualification round but was unable to advance to the finals.
2016: University of Miami and Graduation
Alysha Newman graduated from the University of Miami in 2016 with a major in exercise physiology and a minor in nutrition.
2016: Olympic Debut
Alysha Newman represented Canada in pole vault at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
April 2017: New National Record
Alysha Newman broke her own Canadian national record in women's pole vault in April 2017 at the Hurricane Alumni Invitational, clearing 4.71 meters.
March 2018: World Indoor Championships
Alysha Newman secured sixth place at the 2018 World Indoor Championships with a vault of 4.70 meters.
May 2018: Equipment Mishap and Injury
In May 2018, Alysha Newman faced a setback when Air Canada damaged her poles during transit. Despite competing with borrowed poles, she secured seventh place at the Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix. Later that month, she suffered a torn patellar tendon while warming up for the Prefontaine Classic.
2018: Commonwealth Games Champion
Alysha Newman became the Commonwealth Games champion in pole vault in 2018.
February 2019: Canadian Indoor Record
Alysha Newman won the 2019 Indoor Meeting iKarlsruhe in February by clearing 4.71 meters, setting a new Canadian indoor record for women's pole vault.
July 2019: Personal Best and Diamond League Win
Alysha Newman achieved a new personal best of 4.77 meters at the Stabhochsprung Jockgrim meet in July 2019. Later that month, she secured her first Diamond League victory at the 2019 Meeting de Paris.
October 2019: Altercation with Anthony Chickillo
In October 2019, Alysha Newman and her then-boyfriend, Anthony Chickillo, were involved in an altercation that resulted in both facing charges, which were later dropped.
2019: Last Championship Final Before 2024 Olympics
In 2019, Alysha Newman reached a championship final, a feat she hadn't repeated until the 2024 Olympics.
2019: Pan American Games and World Championships
Alysha Newman won a bronze medal at the 2019 Pan American Games with a 4.55-meter vault but expressed disappointment with her performance. She achieved a new Canadian record of 4.82 meters at the 2019 Meeting de Paris, ranking her 16th all-time. At the 2019 World Athletics Championships, she cleared 4.80 meters, finishing fifth.
2020: Second Olympic Appearance
Alysha Newman competed in her second Summer Olympics in 2020 (held in 2021 due to the pandemic).
2020: Olympics and Concussion
Alysha Newman participated in the 2020 Summer Olympics, which were postponed to 2021. Unfortunately, she was unable to clear any attempts in the qualification round. This was later attributed to a concussion she sustained in 2021.
October 2021: Concussion Recovery and New Training Regimen
Following ongoing concussion symptoms, Alysha Newman sought further medical attention in October 2021 and embarked on a new recovery program.
2021: Maxim's Hot 100 Women
Alysha Newman was recognized for her attractiveness and influence by being included in Maxim's Hot 100 Women list in 2021.
May 2022: Return to Competition and Heptathlon Debut
As Alysha Newman recovered from her concussion, she started training at York University's Athletics Canada facility. Inspired by heptathlete Georgia Ellenwood, she tried multi-event training and debuted in the heptathlon in May 2022, finishing fourth at the NACAC Combined Events Championship.
October 2022: Funding Dispute and Mental Performance Coaching
Following a series of setbacks, Athletics Canada attempted to reduce Alysha Newman's funding in October 2022. However, she successfully contested this decision. After engaging a mental performance coach, she excelled in the 2023 World Athletics Indoor Tour.
2023: World Athletics Indoor Tour Success and World Championships Disappointment
Alysha Newman triumphed in the 2023 World Athletics Indoor Tour, achieving a 4.78-meter clearance. However, the 2023 World Athletics Championships proved disappointing as she only managed 4.5 meters in the pole vault, preventing her from reaching the final.
2024: Olympic Bronze Medal
Alysha Newman won a bronze medal in pole vault at the 2024 Summer Olympics, marking the first time a Canadian woman achieved a medal in this event.
2024: Newman's Success in 2024 Indoor and Outdoor Season, Olympic Bronze Medal Win, and National Record
In 2024, Alysha Newman achieved significant milestones in her athletic career. She secured a victory at the All-Star Perche in Clermont-Ferrand, setting a new Canadian national record. Despite an ankle sprain that forced her withdrawal from the World Athletics Indoor Championships, she bounced back with a strong outdoor season, culminating in a bronze medal win at the Olympics, marking Canada's first-ever Olympic medal in women's pole vault and a new national record of 4.85m.