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Canadian Olympic pole vaulter Alysha Newman turned heads at last summer’s Paris Games and went viral for a celebratory dance after winning the bronze medal.
Newman cleared 4.85 meters to earn the first Olympic medal of his career.
The athlete turned model and influencer now offers advice to those who want to follow in her footsteps.
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Bronze medalist Alysha Newman of Team Canada reacts after the women’s pole vault final at the Olympic Games in Paris on August 7, 2024. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Newman began by reflecting on the early life experiences that helped shape her into the person she is today.
“In elementary school, I once got the answer right on a test, but I didn’t use the method my teacher wanted. She wouldn’t give me the gold star, but she gave it to other kids who got the same answer,” Newman told Maxim.
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“So while everyone else went to recess, I went into her desk, freed a gold star from her drawer, and put that gold star on my paper all by myself. It’s sad how much we hope and wait for someone else to give us the gold star we want—friends, colleagues, a partner, or even strangers.”
Alysha Newman celebrates her bronze medal and poses with the Canadian flag at the Paris Olympics on August 7, 2024. (Aytac Unal/Anadolu via Getty Images)
She added that aspiring individuals should avoid seeking validation from others and instead lean on their own confidence.
“This is my advice: Don’t wait for the world to give you permission. Don’t wait for someone else to validate you. Find the confidence and give yourself that gold star!”
Canada’s bronze medalist Alysha Newman celebrates on the podium during the victory ceremony for the women’s pole vault final at the Paris Olympic Games on August 8, 2024. (Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP via Getty Images)
Newman has partnerships with several major brands, including sportswear and footwear giant Nike. Her combined following across TikTok, Instagram and OnlyFans is nearly 1 million.
After reflecting on a time when she was told I had to choose: be an athlete or be a model, Newman spoke of watching her path align.
“Now I’ve stepped into documentaries, partnerships with incredible brands like Rado and Nike, and even shot Celebrity Family Feud to raise money for my charity. And now I’m living a full-circle moment,” she said.
Newman set Atlantic Coast Conference, University of Miami and Canadian national records when she cleared 4.60 meters in her final home meet as a Hurricane. At the time, that performance also placed Newman at No. 4 in the world rankings.
