Olympic Shot Put Star Valerie Adams Retires

Two-time Olympic women’s shot put champion Rotorua-born Dame Valerie Adams has announced her retirement at the age of 37, ESPN reports.

Adams also won Olympic silver and bronze medals and was a four-time world champion, a four-time world indoor champion and three-time Commonwealth Games champion.

One of 18 children of a Tonga-born mother and England-born father, Adams is a sister of Memphis Grizzlies basketball star Steven Adams. A sister, Lisa Adams, was a shot put gold medallist at the Tokyo Paralympics last year.

“After winning my bronze medal in Tokyo, I contemplated whether to embark on another campaign. My heart, mind and body simply answered the question for me so it’s time to call it a day,” Adams said.

Her personal best throw is 21.24m.

Original article by ESPN, March 1, 2022.