The third time was a charm for pole vaulter Alysha Newman.
The Canadian set a personal best and national record with a vault of 4.85 metres to win a surprising Olympic bronze medal on Wednesday at Paris 2024.
Competing in her third Olympics, Newman hadn’t even reached a Summer Games final before Paris. She has dealt with numerous injury setbacks throughout her career, including an ankle injury that kept her out of this year’s world indoor championship.
In an interview afterward with CBC Olympics, Newman acknowledged she has been injured “constantly.”
“But I never give up, I never stop,” she said. “I needed to stick to my guns. I know I’m one of the best in the world and tonight I proved I’m third best in the world and now I want more.”
It is Canada’s 19th medal in Paris and the country’s first Olympic medal in pole vault since 1912.
Newman secured a medal when Switzerland’s Angelica Moser missed at 4.90 metres after passing on her third and final attempt at 4.85. The Canadian was quite close on two of three attempts on 4.90 metres, but couldn’t keep the bar up.
There was a lengthy delay before her third attempt because of a technical issue with the bar. An official apologized to Newman during the break before she ended up bringing down the bar again.
“I was laughing because I went over my coaches and just told them you just tell me when I’m done,” Newman said. “(She told them) ‘I’m not going to look at the bar heights, not going to look at what attempt I’m on or where I’m positioned. Just tell me when I’m done, when I’ve got three X’s.'”
Newman, 30, missed once at 4.60 metres after she lost her grip on the pole and also missed her first attempt at 4.85 metres.
Five women cleared 4.80 metres and battled for the medals.
Australia’s Nina Kennedy cleared 4.90 metres to beat out reigning Olympic champ Katie Moon of the United States for gold. While Moon and Newman had the same height, the American got the silver by virtue of having one fewer fault in the leadup to 4.85.
Kennedy and Moon shared the gold at the world championships last year.
Newman qualified for her first career Olympic final on Monday when she cleared 4.55 metres.
The London, Ont., native was tied for sixth in the world rankings this season with a top height of 4.83 metres (her previous personal best) entering Paris.
Nineteen women qualified for the final, well up from the minimum 12. Nine women cleared 4.40 metres and opted not to go higher, leading to the expanded field.
The Canadian won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and bronze at the 2019 Pan American Games.
