Alysha Newman Biography, Age, Height, Wiki, Net Worth, Husband, Career

Alysha Eveline Newman is a famous Canadian track and field athlete specializing in the pole vault. She is a Commonwealth Games gold medalist, having won a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and won a bronze medal at the 2024 2024 Paris Olympics.

Newman penned her name in history books by becoming the first Canadian woman ever to win an Olympic medal in the pole vault.  Her bronze medal-winning vault of 4.85 meters also set a new Canadian national record.

Alysha Newman is a three-time Olympian and has represented her country at the 2016, 2020, and 2024 Summer Olympic Games. Get more information and details about Alysha Newman, including her biography, career achievements, family and personal life, education, height, weight, relationship, age, and much more right here.

Who Is Alysha Newman? (Quick Facts)

Early Life and Background

Alysha Newman was born on June 29, 1994, in London, Ontario, Canada. Long before she became a record-breaking pole vaulter, her first sport was gymnastics. She spent much of her early childhood developing herself in the sport, but her gymnastics career was abruptly halted at the age of 13 due to a serious injury to a vertebra in her lower back.

After taking a year off from any sports activity, she considered the chance of playing ice hockey or diving. A coach who knew her gymnastic background encouraged her to try a career in pole vault.

Career

In 2013, she began her collegiate career at Eastern Michigan University, where she immediately made her mark by winning the Mid-American Conference championship and qualifying for the prestigious NCAA tournament.

Seeking to further develop her skills, she made a strategic transfer to the University of Miami in 2014, following the steps of her coach, Jerel Langley. This move proved to be a building block for her development into a world-class athlete. While excelling in her studies, majoring in Exercise Physiology and minoring in Nutrition, she was simultaneously building the physical foundation for her vaulting career.

Her time with the Miami Hurricanes was nothing short of spectacular. On April 9, 2016, at the Hurricane Alumni Invitational, Newman cleared a height of 4.60 meters (15 ft 1 in). This single, massive vault was a triple crown of record-breaking: it shattered the University of Miami’s school record, set a new Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) record, and established a new Canadian national record.

She capped her stellar college career that June by winning the silver medal at the 2016 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, graduating as a six-time NCAA Division I All-American.

Her first major international medal came early, a bronze at the 2014 Commonwealth Games with a vault of 3.80m. This was just a glimpse of what was to come. After officially being named to the Canadian Olympic team in 2016, she experienced the disappointment of not qualifying for the final at the Rio Games. However, this setback only fueled her drive.

The following years were defined by a relentless rewriting of the record books. She repeatedly broke her own Canadian national record, pushing it from 4.60m to 4.61m, then to 4.71m in 2017. That same year, she announced her arrival among the global elite by finishing seventh in her first World Athletics Championships final.

The pinnacle of this ascension came in 2018 at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. With a clutch clearance of 4.75 meters, Newman not only won the gold medal but also set a new Commonwealth Games record.

Her peak continued into 2019, a stellar season where she truly dominated. She set a new personal best of 4.77m and then achieved a career milestone by winning her first Diamond League event at the Meeting de Paris. There, she soared to a new Canadian record of 4.82m, a height that ranked her among the top pole vaulters of all time. She capped the year with a fifth-place finish at the 2019 World Championships.

Just as Alysha Newman seemed to be reaching the peak of her powers, a series of devastating setbacks tested her physical and mental fortitude in ways she had never experienced.

The challenges began in 2018 when, en route to a competition in Doha, Air Canada destroyed all of her custom poles. She competed with borrowed equipment, but shortly after, she suffered a torn patellar tendon during a warm-up, sidelining her with an injury.

However, the most profound obstacle came in 2021. While attending the Drake Relays, Newman suffered a severe concussion from a fall in her hotel shower. The injury was mismanaged, and she was pressured to continue training and compete at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The result was a heartbreaking performance where she failed to clear a single height. She later revealed that lingering concussion symptoms had made it impossible to compete, but she felt obligated to appear due to sponsor agreements.

The years that followed were a struggle. She battled ongoing symptoms, experimented with the heptathlon to regain her love for the sport, and underperformed at major championships like the 2022 World Championships and Commonwealth Games, the latter hampered by an undiagnosed heel fracture. The struggles were so great that Athletics Canada moved to reduce her funding, a decision she successfully appealed.

Refusing to be defined by her setbacks, Newman made a pivotal change by hiring a mental performance coach. This, combined with her relentless drive, sparked a turnaround. She found success on the 2023 World Athletics Indoor Tour, winning the series and clearing a promising 4.78m. Though the 2023 World Championships were another disappointment, she was building momentum for what was to come.

Even in her triumphant 2024 season, adversity struck again. After setting a new indoor national record (4.83m) and being named team co-captain for the World Indoor Championships, she sprained her ankle just two days before the event and was forced to withdraw. After a twelve-week recovery, she mounted yet another comeback, setting the stage for her historic performance in Paris.

Personal Life, Business, and Relationships

Alysha Newman grew up in a supportive gymnastics background. Her parents, Robert and Paula Newman, worked to ensure that Alysha and her three siblings, Brianna, Dylan, and Kris, had a quality education.

She was in a public relationship with Anthony Chickillo, a former NFL linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers. While the relationship garnered media attention, she has since maintained a more private stance on her romantic life and is currently believed to be single.

Beyond athletics, Newman has successfully built her personal brand. Her confidence and presence earned her a spot on Maxim’s “Hot 100” list in 2021. She has also leveraged online platforms like OnlyFans to generate additional income for herself, which is a challenge faced by many amateur and professional athletes. She has stated this was a strategic move to support herself in a system where athletic funding can be inconsistent.

Alysha Newman’s Net Worth

Alysha Newman’s net worth is estimated to be between $1 million and $5 million USD. As a top-tier athlete, she earns prize money from winning and placing in prestigious competitions like the Diamond League, World Athletics events, and the Olympic Games.

Her status as a record-holding Olympian makes her an attractive partner for brands, contributing significantly to her income.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How tall is Alysha Newman?

Alysha Newman is 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) tall. Her height is a significant physical advantage in pole vaulting, providing greater leverage to propel herself over the bar.

What was Alysha Newman’s celebration at the 2024 Olympics?

After winning the bronze medal in Paris, Newman’s joyful celebration included a spontaneous twerking dance that went viral on social media.

Is Alysha Newman on OnlyFans?

Yes, Alysha Newman has an OnlyFans account.

What injury did Alysha Newman have?

Newman has overcome several major injuries. These include a torn patellar tendon in her knee in 2018 and a severe concussion in 2021 that had long-lasting effects on her performance. She also dealt with an ankle sprain in 2024 and a heel fracture in 2022.

Who did Alysha Newman date?

She was previously in a public relationship with Anthony Chickillo, a former NFL linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

What did Alysha Newman study in college?

She graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Physiology and a minor in Nutrition.

Why is her 2024 Olympic bronze medal so significant?

Newman’s bronze medal is historic because it made her the first Canadian woman ever to win an Olympic medal in the pole vault. It was also the first Olympic pole vault medal for Canada of any gender since 1912.

What is Alysha Newman’s Canadian record?

As of her 2024 Olympic performance, she holds the Canadian women’s pole vault record outdoors at 4.85 meters and indoors at 4.83 meters.

How many Olympics has Alysha Newman competed in?

She is a three-time Olympian, having represented Canada at the 2016 Rio Games, the 2020 Tokyo Games (which were held in 2021), and the 2024 Paris Games.