Story: Athletics

Valerie Adams, 2012

Valerie Adams, 2012

Valerie Adams, pictured in 2012, was New Zealand's star athlete and the world's best woman shot putter in the early 21st century. By 2018 she had won four world championship titles, five Diamond League series, three Olympic medals (two gold and one silver), and five Commonwealth Games medals (three gold and two silver). Her 2012 gold at the London Olympics came in less-than-ideal circumstances – initially she placed second behind Belarussian Nadzeya Ostapchuk, who was later stripped of her medal for doping. In 2017 she was appointed a Dame of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to athletics.

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New Zealand Herald
Reference: 190912NZHGBVALERIE4.JPG
Photograph by Greg Bowker

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How to cite this page:

David Colquhoun, 'Athletics - Into the 21st century', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/39972/valerie-adams-2012 (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by David Colquhoun, published 5 Sep 2013, updated 20 Sep 2016