Who is Alysha Newman? All about the Olympic pole vaulter and Only Fans star who went viral for 'twerking' celebration at Paris Olympics 2024

Alysha Newman, the Canadian pole vaulter, won the women's pole vault bronze on Wednesday at the 2024 Paris Olympics and celebrated by twerking. Her unique Olympic medal-winning celebration captured the attention of global fans and made her an overnight sensation. Newman is also an OnlyFans model besides being a track and field athlete.

Alysha Newman, 30, holds the Commonwealth Games and Canadian national record in women's pole vault. Despite qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Newman failed in all three of her pole vault attempts in the qualifiers, which didn't secure her a spot on the final roster. Having faced a concussion the same year, Alysha Newman had disappointing pole vault finishes in the following events. After two years, she found success at the 2023 World Athletics Indoor Tour, winning her event at the Birmingham Grand Prix.

In 2024, Newman was named co-captain of the women's team at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships but withdrew from the main event due to an ankle sprain. But she was quick to return and set an outdoor season's best (4.76m) at the London Athletics Meet. Her entry into the Paris Olympics finals was the first in her career and her bronze medal win was the first for any Canadian woman pole vaulter.

She cleared 4.85m for the bronze and set a new national record as well. She twerked to celebrate her medal and jumped in ecstasy as several cameras captured her in her best moment.

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Alysha Newman Education

Newman attended the Mother Teresa Secondary School in London, Ontario before joining the Eastern Michigan Univerisity in 2013. She then shifted to the University of Miami to take forward her NCAA career. She graduated from there with a minor in nutrition and a major in exercise physiology in 2016. During her college, she amassed several victories, including six NCAA Division 1 All-American titles.

Alysha Newman's early sporting life

Newman first started with gymnastics at the age of 13 but was forced to quit due to an injury. During her one-year hiatus, the 30-year-old considered ice hockey and diving and settled for track and field after her mother signed her up for it.

Who are Alysha Newman's parents?

Newman was born to Paula and Robert Newman on June 29, 1994.

Alysha Newman opened up about her increased OnlyFans followers after Olympic twerk

Speaking to the German publication BILD, Newman opened up about people who criticized her for her presence on the subscription fan site. She clarified that no hate comments bother her since the platform has helped her connect with several people.

“Of course, many people have a certain cliché when they think of OnlyFans. I can’t change many people’s minds. But this website has connected me with many fans, more than any other pole vaulter before. What others think about it doesn’t bother me. I am who I am and I do it well," she said. (via BILD)

Newman has been trying her luck since the 2016 Rio Olympics and her hard work culminated with the bronze in Paris. She became the first Canadian pole vaulter to medal at the Olympics since William Halpenny in 1912.