Alysha Newman becomes first Canadian woman to win Olympic medal in pole vault

It was a historic night on the track for Canada.

Alysha Newman vaulted her way into the Canadian history books as she earned the country’s only medal of the day at Paris 2024.

The 30-year-old from London, Ont., claimed bronze in the women’s pole vault with a Canadian-record height of 4.85 metres.

Canadian record ✅ Olympic bronze medal ✅ Making Canada proud ✅

Alysha Newman has won Canada's first-ever Olympic medal in women's pole vault! 🇨🇦 🥉

Catch up on her medal moment ➡️ https://t.co/DyeHUdAUIH pic.twitter.com/J4AjBDhZZr

— Team Canada (@TeamCanada) August 7, 2024

Newman’s bronze was the first-ever Olympic medal in women’s pole vault for Canada and the country’s first medal, man or woman, in the event in more than a century.

The only other two Canadians to win medals in pole vault were Edward Archibald, a bronze in 1908, and William Halpenny, also a bronze four years later.

The bronze medal earned by Newman today was Canada’s 19th of Paris 2024, with six gold, four silvers and nine bronze.

And while it was the country’s only medal of the day, it certainly wasn’t the only exciting story involving Canada’s female athletes.

Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson kept their Cinderella story going in the sand, as they advanced to the semi-final of the women’s beach volleyball event.

Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson are in the semi-finals after winning against Spain. 🇨🇦

This will be the best Olympic result ever achieved by Canada in women's beach volleyball. 🏐https://t.co/s3ZfDUcAWx

— Team Canada (@TeamCanada) August 7, 2024

After upsetting the second-ranked in the world American duo of Kristin Nuss and Taryn Kloth in the round of 16, they were up against Daniela Alvarez and Tania Moreno of Spain today.

Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson cruised in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, knocking off the Spaniards 21-18, 21-18 for the straight-sets victory.

“When we got together we wanted to make history together,” Humana-Paredes said following the match.

It wasn’t all good news for Canadian athletes on Wednesday, however, as the men’s 200m semis came and went with Andre De Grasse, Aaron Brown and Brendon Rodney all failing to advance.

The result was especially disappointing for De Grasse, who entered Paris 2024 as the defending Olympic champion in the event.

_{Thumbnail photo courtesy of Team Canada on X/Darren Calabrese.}