Alysha Newman sets Canadian record for bronze in women’s pole vault

Canada’s Alysha Newman has won bronze at the Paris Olympics, setting a personal best and Canadian record of 4.85 metres in the women’s pole vault final. She is the first Canadian woman to win an Olympic medal in the pole vault. 

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Australia’s Nina Kennedy took the gold medal, clearing a season’s best 4.90m on her first try. Katie Moon of Team USA earned silver, with 4.85m.

After Czechia’s Amálie Švábíková jumped a seven-centimetre personal best and national record for 4.80m, there were only five contenders left–and the bar went up to 4.85m. It didn’t appear to bother Newman when she missed her first try at 4.85m, her demeanour showing that she knew she could–and on her second attempt, she cleared the bar.

Newman’s previous Canadian record was 4.83m, set at the All-Star Perche in Clermont-Ferrand, France, on Feb. 22. This was her first Olympic final, and her bronze meal is the first Canadian medal in the Olympic pole vault event, male or female, since William Halpenny’s bronze medal at the Stockholm Olympics in 1912.

Newman had three unsuccessful tries at 4.90m, but it didn’t matter–she had done what she came to Paris to do, win a medal and more.

This is Newman’s third Olympics. She made her first Olympic team in Rio 2016. She finished seventh at the 2017 World Championships in London, then earned gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games with a jump of 4.75m. At the Tokyo Olympics, after dealing with a concussion, she failed to clear a height, and has really only returned to international competition this year. In February, she set a Canadian record with 4.83m. 

Athletics events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are taking place from Aug. 1-11. Today’s coverage is brought to you by Canadian Running and PUMA Canada. Follow us on Twitter on Instagram for all things Team Canada and up-to-date exclusive news and content.