By 2014, Usain Bolt had already cemented his status as the fastest man on the planet. With six Olympic gold medals and multiple world records to his name, he was the unquestioned king of sprinting. Every time he stepped onto the track, stadiums paused, cameras zoomed in, and the world held its breath. The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow were no exception. Spectators eagerly awaited his appearance in the 4×100m relay, knowing that another electrifying performance was imminent.

Amid the spectacle of Bolt’s presence, a young Canadian pole vaulter named Alysha Newman was also making her mark. Competing in her first major international event, she was focused on securing a podium finish. But what she didn’t expect was that her medal ceremony would be delayed. The reason? Everyone was waiting for Bolt to run.

Recalling the moment a decade later, during an interview with the CBC Olympics on January 17, 2025, Newman reflected on the surreal experience of sharing space with the legendary sprinter. “They put us on pause because they’re waiting for Usain Bolt to run,” she said. But what happened next was even more unexpected. Bolt, in his usual charismatic manner, had unknowingly occupied Newman’s seat. When he got up to sign something, Newman took his place. What followed was a hilarious exchange that perfectly captured their vastly different athletic realities.

“I remember sharing my seat with him to get this medal. I guess he was sitting in the chair we came in and then he must have got up to go sign something and I sat down. He was just sitting in my chair and I was like, ‘I just competed for four hours, you ran nine seconds,’” Newman recounted. Bolt’s reaction? He burst into laughter and simply responded, “Fair.”

The moment was a lighthearted yet striking contrast between two elite athletes in completely different disciplines. Bolt’s dominance was built on explosive speed and brief but breathtaking performances, while Newman’s event demanded endurance, precision, and hours of grueling competition. Yet, in that candid exchange, they found common ground in the unpredictability of elite sports.

Fast forward a decade, and Newman has established herself as a powerhouse in pole vaulting, winning Canada’s first-ever Olympic medal in the event at Paris 2024. The throwback to Glasgow 2014 serves as a reminder of her journey. The one that began in the shadow of a sprinting icon but has since flourished on its own terms. And while Usain Bolt’s legacy remains untouchable, it’s safe to say that on that day in 2014, he got a rare taste of humility. That too from a then-rising star who wasn’t afraid to speak her truth. Now, as Newman flaunts her Olympic medal, the road to the triumph was not all ordinary and easy for the Canadian star.

Alysha Newman started OnlyFans to fund her Olympic ambitions 

Despite brushing shoulders with the likes of Usain Bolt, Newman did not get enough limelight to become a megastar. And sadly, in track and field, the ones who fail to make a big name do not get enough brand endorsement to fund their training and ambitions. Exposing the dark reality of athlete pay, renowned personalities like Kenny Bednarek, Noah Lyles, and others have already been vocal about the same. During the US Olympic trials in 2024, 35 unsponsored athletes turned up in all-black outfits, exposing the sad truth even more. Thus, Alysha Newman decided to take a different approach.

In order to fuel her Olympic ambitions, the Canadian pole vaulter decided to sign up for Only Fans. While such an approach might have drawn extensive criticism, Newman was able to sustain her career from the OF earnings, successfully competing in two Olympic Games. Her decision dates back to 2021 when she made up her mind to step into the OnlyFans world. However, despite the website being heavily associated with adult and explicit content, Newman posted content sharing her Olympic experience. 

Reflecting on her journey, Newman opened up about her decision on episode 21 of the ‘You Only Die Twice’ podcast in mid-December. She stated that with everything shut during lockdown, sharing Olympic experiences with her fans made her fanbase grow. She explained, “So, for me, it was, ‘How do I get my fans to come to the Olympics with me?’ Because there was COVID, there were no ticket sales; there was no nothing. I was like, ‘Can I share my experience and do a little vlog style, getting paid while I’m there?’” Surely, her plan did work and the Canadian pole vaulter has now become a popular OF star. 

She further mentioned that her decision to join OF was solely her decision. In fact, not even her agents knew and were taken aback initially. Newman said, “Yes, completely. I actually posted it on Instagram, and my agents at the time called me and were like, ‘What are you doing?’ And I was like, ‘What do you mean, what am I doing? This is exactly what I want to do.’” Thus, it is evident that Alysha Newman is not afraid to take an unconventional approach to fuel her dreams. With the Olympic bronze medal already in her bag, it now remains to be seen how she keeps up the good work in the future.