Canada’s Alysha Newman won the bronze medal in the women’s pole vault event on Wednesday at the Paris Olympics.
It was a doubly historic day for her. It was Canada’s first women’s medal in the event and, by clearing 4.85 metres on her second attempt, Newman set a new Canadian record.
After missing two jumps at 4.85 metres, Switzerland’s Angelica Moser decided to postpone her last attempt at 4.90 metres. Moser, however, missed her chance, ensuring a medal for Newman.
The Canadian missed all three of her attempts at 4.90 metres, but her previous result had still allowed her to improve her own national record.
At the 2021 Tokyo Games, the 30-year-old Ontarian missed all three of her jumps at 4.25 metres and did not qualify for the final.
Australia’s Nina Kennedy won the gold medal with a clear of 4.90 metres while American Katie Moon won silver for her jump of 4.85 metres. Moon edged out Newman due to a lower total of misses.
Canada’s last pole vault medal was at the Stockholm Games in 1912. William Halpenny won bronze with a jump of 3.80 metres.
With Duty
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