Mondo Duplantis may be the face of pole vaulting, but there is another athlete driving the sport in a slightly different way.

Alysha Newman made headlines over the summer with a twerking celebration whilst on her way to clinching bronze at the Paris Olympics, which also drew attention to one of her sources of income.

Newman has tapped into her appeal away from the trackGetty

Canada’s history-making medallist alerted many to the existence of her OnlyFans profile, and prompted some to label the move a stunt to drive subscribers as a result.

With the social media platform widely known for selling X-rated content, Newman was forced to defend herself against critics, insisting that her presence on the site was a positive.

And the athlete’s confidence in her convictions now appears to be paying off.

The 30-year-old regularly shares content from her training sessions on the adult-streaming platform, which charges people a monthly subscription of $12.99 (£10.20).

With varying reports suggesting Newman has earned at least $155,800 from her new wave of subscribers during the Olympics, she is now intent on using her presence in the best way possible.

In a recent interview with the Toronto Star, the Ontario native recently shared her and her team’s plans for a new indoor training facility for pole vault and field events in the Greater Toronto Area.

Newman will host a gala fundraiser for the project next month, as she looks to secure a much-needed upgrade on the abandoned tennis courts which currently serve as her training base now her season is over.

Discussing the proposal, she said: “If there’s any Olympic gift I can give my coaches, it’s to give them a facility where they can develop more pole vaulters, more high jumpers, more long jumpers, and Canada is dominating like crazy in the throws events.”

With under funding a major issue for pole vaulting in Canada, Newman’s coach revealed that she is yet to secure a training facility for the winter, having previously used an old marijuana grow-op.

As a result, Newman is understandably bullish when explaining her decision to maximise her earnings by any means possible.

Newman impressively cleared 4.85m to win bronze in ParisAFP

Newman’s twerking celebration which came afterwards went viral over the summerGetty

The star’s iconic Games celebration, which saw her pretend to be injured before doing a quick twerk dance is not her only move which has helped to boost her following.

Newman has previously modelled for the lingerie brand Agent Provocateur, and revealed that she has made more through OnlyFans than her athletic career.

The summer hero defended her choices, with her entrepreneurial ventures allowing her to continue funding her athletics career throughout her previous injury-hit seasons.

Newman said: “I’ve loved the fact that I can turn my strength and my beauty on the track into revenue and an empire. Why wouldn’t I do that?

Pointing to her lack of earnings as an Olympian, she added: “Other people are making money off of my looks and likeness, just ask the Olympic Games.”

“I knew the stigma around [OnlyFans] and I knew I had a strong skin and a good backbone to be able to keep pushing through it because I wanted to monetise myself.”

Newman ended the season with another strong performance, finishing third in the Diamond League final in Brussels. The men’s event may have the supreme athlete in Duplantis, but Newman has to deal with Nina Kennedy.

The Australian won for the eighth successive time and cleared 4.88 metres, with Newman, competing in her first Diamond League final since 2019, clearing 4.80m.

But by her determination to improve her compatriots’ training, it will not be a quiet off season.