Olympic medalist Alysha Newman returns to South Florida and shares her journey to success.
Alysha Newman has shifted her training mentality while imparting wisdom for the next generation of athletes. PHOTO BY ILICH MEJIA
What was it like competing in the Olympics and setting a record? The best part about competing at the Olympics is the atmosphere—bringing so many different countries into one place, everyone at peace, there’s no hatred. Everyone’s just in love with the sports and the games. This competition was a make-it-or-break-it moment for me. If I didn’t medal, it would’ve been easy to say, “Okay, it’s time to move on with my life.” I would’ve retired. But instead, it kickstarted my career, jumping the record and medaling. It reassured me that I was on the right path to being a track and field athlete. L.A. 2028, here I come!
What is your training protocol like? After my third Olympics, my training shifted to focus more on rest and quality over quantity. I prioritize well-executed reps. As you get older in track and field, the intensity Olympians go through daily starts to take a toll on your body, especially your joints. Recovery, rest and active recovery days are key. I’ve also started using visualization techniques—if I can’t finish a three-hour workout, I’ll go home and mentally visualize doing the sets I missed. It’s about training the mind to feel its best, whether or not every rep gets done.
What is one piece of advice you would tell your teenage self? I recommend embracing failure more. We’re so quick to judge ourselves, and even when working together, it’s amazing how fast we are. It separates us from feeling confident in success. In any circumstance—whether negative or positive—I try to find three positives for every negative. The negatives are there to help us learn and grow, not to diminish who we are.
What can you never over-invest in? You can never over-invest in your health and your loved ones. I have always believed that family doesn’t have to be blood. The people with you at your lowest are so important, as are the ones who celebrate you, even when they’re going through hard times. Success is one thing, but when we leave this planet, we only take memories—not material things.
What piece of advice do you hope to impart to the next generation of athletes? There’s no goal too big for anyone to achieve. I truly believe every human is on this earth to push boundaries. My motto has always been about turning the impossible into possibilities. If something scares you, you’re in the right place. If you’re failing, that’s exactly where you’re supposed to be. Pushing through uncomfortable situations helps you grow and become your ultimate best self. I also believe that having access to the right resources can make all the difference. That’s why I’m working toward creating a high-performance indoor track and field facility - a space where athletes can have consistent coaching, modern infrastructure, and a true home base to develop their potential. This facility will focus on building future Olympians and medalists while ensuring the next generation has better opportunities than I did.
What is it like returning to South Florida as an Olympian, having studied here in college? Returning to South Florida as an Olympian has been such a full-circle moment. At alum events, people now know my name, which is surreal. It’s something I dreamed of as a little girl, but I didn’t realize how much it would mean to me until now. Being able to show my coaches what I’ve accomplished and reconnect with friends has been excellent. My best friend Ellie reminded me that I always said I would do this—and I did it. It’s been so cool to see the people who’ve known me for 15 or 20 years recognize that I lived up to the goals I’d set for myself. It makes my goals feel a little less heavy now. South Florida feels like my second home.
Photography by: Photo By Ilich Mejia; Courtesy of Alysha Newman
