About Valerie

Dame Valerie Adams is undoubtedly the most dominant track and field star New Zealand has ever produced.

From 2006-2014 Dame Valerie was unbeaten in major championships, enjoying an unprecedented winning streak in world athletics of 107 competitions during that period. Her major wins included back-to-back Olympic gold at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games, and four world championship titles.

In 2016, Dame Valerie added silver to her Olympic medal collection at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and was later appointed as a Dame of the New Zealand Order of Merit for Services to Athletics.

As a mother of two, Dame Valerie continued to compete at the top level and won bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (postponed to 2021) whilst also coaching younger sister Lisa to her gold medal win at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in the shot put.

She announced she would be hanging up her throwing shoes in March 2022 and will continue to coach her sister Lisa as well as spend more time with her family, work in her community and with her sponsors. Dame Valerie is a leader and role model in the Pacific community and seven-time Halberg sportswoman of the year is a lively and engaging speaker and personality.