Olympic Pole Vaulter and OnlyFans Star Alysha Newman Explains Viral Bronze Medal ‘Twerking’ Celebration

Canadian pole vaulter Alysha Newman, who went viral for her unexpected twerking celebration after winning a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has opened up about the meaning behind her playful stunt. The 30-year-old athlete revealed that her risqué celebration was actually a lighthearted prank aimed at her coaches.

Newman, who secured third place by clearing 4.85 meters, shared that she wanted to surprise her “intense” coaches, who had pushed her hard to reach the Olympic podium. “I’m always injured, and I’m always getting back on the horse, so I said I’m gonna go and scare my coaches because I want them to lighten up,” Newman told CBC Sports. “So I said I’m gonna fake an injury and dance after.”

Following her record-setting performance, Newman broke into a twerk in front of the cheering crowd and television cameras, flashing a big grin. The celebration quickly divided opinions online, with some speculating that she might have been promoting her OnlyFans account, while others saw it as a fun, spontaneous moment.

“It just happened very fluid,” Newman explained. “I didn’t plan on twerking, but from grabbing my knee to dropping into the twerk, it all just came together.”

The celebration also boosted Newman’s OnlyFans profile, significantly increasing her viewership. Addressing the public’s perception, Newman acknowledged the stereotypes associated with the platform. “Of course, many people have a certain cliché when they think of OnlyFans. I can’t change many people’s minds,” she told German publication BILD.

Newman’s twerking prank may have been inspired by a TikTok trend where people fake an injury and then start twerking to surprise those around them. The trend was popularized by American soccer star Lo’eau Labonta, who is known for her elaborate goal celebrations in the NWSL. While Newman denied knowing about Labonta’s dance, she admitted that she might have seen it in the past. “I got to go look at it and I’ll put us together on Instagram or something,” she joked.

Newman’s bronze medal was historic, marking the first Olympic medal ever won by a Canadian female pole vaulter. Her journey to the podium was far from easy, as she had previously failed to advance past the Qualification round at the 2016 Rio Games and didn’t register a mark in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after failing all three attempts.

Reflecting on her struggles post-2020, Newman admitted she had “retired a million times in her head” but ultimately decided to persevere. “I didn’t show up to some practices and said, ‘I can’t do this anymore,’ but look where I am now—a bronze medalist, and no one can take that title away from me.”

Looking ahead, Newman is already setting her sights on the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where she hopes to upgrade her bronze to silver or gold.