Alysha Newman fulfilled a goal and made Canadian history in the process.
Newman won Canada's first-ever Olympic medal in women's pole vault, claiming bronze on Wednesday with a Canadian-record height of 4.85 metres. Newman said it had been a goal of hers to medal for Canada in the event, and did so in her first Olympic final at her third Games.
"I'm so excited," she said. "I laugh because getting third is, I mean I've never got third, but it's funny because you have to still wait and sit there and wait until the other girls are done. So I'm so awkwardly standing there like, 'What do I do? Do I celebrate? Do I kiss everyone? Do I cry?'
"It was a really surreal moment and it was awesome. I just feel like I'm very emotionally stable right now and just feel so honoured to be the first [women's] pole vaulter to bring home an Olympic medal for Canada."
WATCH l Alysha Newman of Delaware, Ont., clears 4.85m for Olympic bronze:
Newman, from Delaware, Ont., finished at the same height as silver medallist Katie Moon, but had one more missed attempt than the American.
Nina Kennedy of Australia cleared 4.90m to win gold.
Edward Archibald's bronze in the men's event at the 1908 London Games is the only other Olympic pole vault medal in Canadian history.
It's the third medal in athletics for Canada. Ethan Katzberg of Nanaimo, B.C., won gold in the men's hammer throw on Sunday, and Camryn Rogers of Richmond, B.C., claimed gold in the women's hammer throw on Tuesday.
Coming out of the qualifying round, Newman said she felt she could be the surprise of the final. But that thought did not cross her mind after Wednesday's final — just her celebration that she said tricked her coach into thinking she was actually injured.
Newman had dealt with a number of injuries in the past but has learned a lot since the Tokyo Games in 2021. She told The Canadian Press in 2023 that she felt everybody had written her off after missing the final in those Olympics and at the 2022 world championships.
"Tokyo happened and it built so much character for me heading into this Games," she said. "I felt like I was stronger than ever, mentally tough — I never gave up on myself this year and when things went bad, I still smiled and that's huge.
"I'm happy, still, when I lose. I don't think a lot of athletes feel that way. And so I'm honoured that I could step off the track with a bad day and still go home and feel accomplished because I've done so much in this sport and this keeps adding to my resume."
WATCH | CBC Sports' Primetime panel breaks down Newman's bronze medal:
Newman enjoyed a great level of consistency this season. She injured her ankle leading up to world indoor championships in March but bounced back, having jumped 4.75-plus metres in three of her last four meets before the Olympics.
Newman said she "blanked" after missing her first attempt at 4.60m, and that the nerves got to her, but she was reminded by her coach that it was OK to be nervous competing at the Games.
She then thought about what her dad told her at a young age when she was a gymnast, that having that feeling "means you're ready."
And ready she was as Newman didn't miss another attempt until her first at 4.85m and all three at 4.90m.
"Each jump had a theme, so at my 4.85m, it was a new pole, new tape, new everything," she said. "And I just kept writing courage, over and over and over, in my notebook right next to the height. And I just kept saying, 'Have courage, have courage, have courage.'
"And for some reason that word this year has been so powerful to my heart and to my veins. It worked, everything worked and I jumped well and I'm here."
Canadian Pole Vault History
A Triumphant Return to the Olympic Stage
Newman's performance was particularly impressive given her history of injuries and mental health struggles. She missed the final in both the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 World Athletics Championships. However, she used these setbacks as fuel to motivate her, and she returned to the Olympic stage stronger and more determined than ever before.
Embracing Courage on the Road to Bronze
Newman's Olympic bronze medal was the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. She faced many challenges along the way, but she never gave up on her dreams. Her story is an inspiration to athletes and anyone who has ever faced adversity.
Beyond the Medal: A Legacy of Strength and Determination
Newman's Olympic medal is not just a testament to her athletic ability, but also to her resilience and mental fortitude. She’s a role model for young athletes and a reminder that even when facing difficult circumstances, it's never too late to achieve your goals. Her story is one of overcoming obstacles and achieving greatness, and it will inspire generations of athletes to come.
