Meet Alysha Newman, Canada’s twerking pole vault medallist at the Paris Olympics: she went from gymnast to OnlyFans influencer, and bounced back from injuries, mental health issues and alcohol abuse

Aug 14, 2024

Canada’s Alysha Newman took home the bronze medal for women’s pole vault at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Photo: AFP

Newman’s dream was to represent Canada in gymnastics, but an injury ended that – but her mum enrolled her in track and field, a coach guided her transition to pole vaulting, and she just won bronze

She suffered a concussion before the Tokyo Olympics but went on to participate despite knowing that she wasn’t fully fit mentally – it was a disastrous performance

Athlete Alysha Newman, a pole vaulter and popular OnlyFans star, won Canada’s first-ever medal in track and field at the Paris Olympics, finishing behind the US’ Katie Moon and Australia’s Nina Kennedy.

Newman, 30, celebrated her bronze medal by twerking for the crowd at Stade de France.

Olympic women’s pole vault bronze medallist Alysha Newman is also an OnlyFans influencer. Photo: Reuters

Despite the scrutiny that comes with being an OnlyFans influencer, the Olympic medallist is unapologetic about her side gig. “Of course, many people have a certain cliché when they think of OnlyFans. I can’t change many people’s minds,” Newman told Bild, a German news outlet, after her Olympic podium finish.

“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 added.

Here’s everything we know about Alysha Newman.

Alysha Newman was a gymnast before an injury derailed her career

A back injury halted Alysha Newman’s career as a gymnast, then she turned to pole vault. Photo: @alyshanewman/Instagram

Newman, 30, had dreams of representing Canada as a young gymnast, per the Olympics website, but a lower back injury forced her to give up the sport at age 13.

After her recuperation, Newman’s mother enrolled her in track and field to keep her active. Because of her background in gymnastics, a coach guided Newman to transition to vaulting.

She’s broken pole vault records

Alysha Newman holds a number of records for women’s pole vault. Photo: Reuters

Newman graduated from the University of Miami in 2016 with a major in exercise physiology and a minor in nutrition. As a collegiate athlete for the university, not only did she break school records but, in 2016, she set the Canadian record in the women’s pole vault.