In this week’s episode of Healthspan Academy, I sat down with 2-time Olympic Pole Vaulter, Anicka Newell, as we chatted about different training regimens in her preparation for the Olympics. Anicka dissected the pole vault movement itself and the specific skill that goes into the jump. We also talked about the key nutrition, recovery and mental strategies in advancing towards peak athletic performance.
Getting into the sport, Anicka Newell started pole vaulting at age 16. After graduating from Texas State University in 2016 with a major in Exercise Sports Science, she made her Olympic debut at Rio in the same year finishing second at the Canadian Championships. She set her personal best at 4.65m in June 2017 at a meet at her alumni stadium in San Marcos, Texas, making her the number two Canadian woman all-time. She repeated as the runner-up at the Canadian Championships before making the final in her debut at the World Athletics Championships.
In early 2018, Newell finished seventh at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia. She went on to win her first national title. In January 2021, she set a new indoor personal best of 4.70m at a meet in Texas. Outdoors, she recorded a season-high 4.60m in May. In her second Olympic appearance at Tokyo 2020, she advanced to the 15-woman finals. Anicka now works as a coach and personal trainer in Elite Sportz SA. Outside of her sport, she enjoys being near the water and wakeboarding.
You can find Anicka on Instagram @flygirl93.
*** Please note that the content discussed in this podcast is intended for self-education and is not to be interpreted as medical advice.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:46 — 25.9MB)