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Although Texas is Anicka Newell's home year-round, the province of Saskatchewan and the city of Saskatoon in particular are particularly close to her heart.
For the third time in her athletics career, Newell will represent Canada and Saskatoon at the Olympic Games after qualifying in the pole vault at the Canadian Trials last month.
“I burst out crying, just fell down and started crying uncontrollably,” Newell said. “Some people don't even get a chance to make an Olympic team, which is a huge accomplishment in and of itself. Going to my third Olympic Games sounds crazy even saying it out loud.”
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Newell's third Olympic appearance comes eight years after her international debut, which happened to be at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she finished 29th.
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The road to Paris was not all sunshine and roses, however, as she was recovering from an Achilles tendon injury at the beginning of the year, which hampered her training.
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Despite the obstacles she has had to overcome, Newell said her goal is to reach new heights on the podium in Paris and watch the maple leaf being raised at the Stade de France.
“I'm not just going to go, I'm going to compete and win,” Newell said. “I'm trying to put Canada on the podium, so at the end of the day I have a job to do.”
Newell begins her quest for a medal on August 5 with qualifying in the women's pole vault.
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