Two-time Olympic shot put champion Dame Valerie Adams has announced her retirement from international competition.
Dame Valerie leaves after 22 years of competing for New Zealand. In that time she has won four Olympic medals and four world indoor and outdoor titles.
She won her first world title at the youth level in 2001, won the first of three Commonwealth Games gold medals in 2006 and her first Olympic title in 2008.
Dame Valerie has been named New Zealand sportswoman of the year seven times.
The 37-year-old says her heart, mind and body decided now was the time to leave her shot put career.
Dame Valerie will remain associated with the sport as coach to her sister and Paralympic shot put F37 champion Lisa Adams and in her various roles as within sport.
This includes being the Deputy Chair to the World Athletics Athletes’ Commission, Chair of the Oceania Athlete Commission and Chair of the Athletics NZ High Performance Athletes’ Commission.
