New Dimensions
Dame Valerie Adams
Dame Valerie Adams: Writing the next chapter
After two decades at the top of her game, Dame Valerie Adams is still writing and rewriting her story. But shot putter Dame Valerie Adams has always had a lot of stories to tell. Fierce competitor. World Champion. Dame. And now, mum. Born in Rotorua, New Zealand/Aotearoa, Valerie grew up in South Auckland, where she was immersed in her culture and community. She began competing at 14 years old and won her first World Youth Championship three years later. At around the same time, Valerie’s mother passed away, leaving her to work tirelessly to help support her family.
At 36, Valerie has a long list of medals, records and awards to her name including eight World Championships but there’s still plenty more she wants to achieve. “I never go to championships to be a number… Not this girl. I don't function like that, I can't function like that,” she says. It’s a statement that sums up Valerie's tenacity and unwavering dedication to her sport.
But it’s not all about collecting medals and championships for Valerie. Now a mum, she has a fresh perspective and a determination to continue showing women, especially Pacific Islander women, that they can achieve anything. And then achieve it again. “I've had my life changed in a positive way, I want to be able to do that for someone else,” she says.
You’re many things including an elite athlete, a world champion, a coach, a dame and a mum. Which one of these things defines you the most?
Being a mum. Really, I've been to multiple championships and won multiple gold medals. I've done everything that you can possibly think of as an athlete, and more, but I would have given it all away to become a mum. I absolutely adore being a mum. I’ll be happy if I’m even half the person my mother was to her children.
What was it like to come back to elite sport after having children?
It's not easy. My body is a little bit older now. You've got to be smart about how you train and be open to modifying things to suit what you are now. I'm not 23 any more… If you've had a baby, stuff happens to your body and it's not necessarily fun. But if you want to continue on being an athlete, if this is your dream, you can do it. You can absolutely do it.
What would you say to women who are trying to get back into their passion, be that sport or otherwise, after having children?
Never give up on your dream. Just don't give up on your dream. Just because you've had a kid and started a family, you can still make it happen.”
Put your mind to it. Get a good plan around you, get a good support network around you, have people around you who would support you in your dreams.
“If you’ve had a baby, stuff happens to your body and it’s not necessarily fun. But if you want to continue on being an athlete, if this is your dream, you can do it. You can absolutely do it.”
— Dame Valerie Adams
After two decades, how has your approach to competing changed?
I've been able to find my voice as I've gone along and be a little bit more courageous. This isn’t my first rodeo. I've just got to be smarter and do this a little bit differently. I'm a 36 year old competing against girls who are 10 to 15 years younger than me.
Is there a moment or a person who has shaped the course of your life?
What really changed for me when I started athletics, started with my PE teacher. Coming from South Auckland, not having a lot, she bought me my first pair of real running shoes. And they were my first pair of Nikes.
She is just a wonderful Samoan teacher, my PE teacher, who told me she believed in me. And when you come from where I come from and have someone buy you some Nike shoes, that is a big deal. That is a huge deal. But for her to be able to do that gave me so much hope in myself.
“As I’ve gone on in my career, I’m seeing more and more people like myself get involved in the sport, actually be successful in the sport and be competitive at a national level, which is awesome.”
— Dame Valerie Adams
What does it mean to you to be a role model for the Pacific Islander community?
My community in South Auckland [is] very underserved, but there’s lots of talent. Talent coming out of your ears. Plenty of talent. But it's just fostering that positive behavior, giving them that opportunity. How do you enable them and give them that opportunity to give it a crack? I could find 10 Valerie's for you in this suburb in Auckland, but they've got nowhere to go… So how do we create opportunities within this area to actually draw more kids in? Because for me, it's about changing one person's life. If I can change one person's life throughout my whole career, I'm good with that.
What are your hopes for that next generation of athletes?
I just hope that they never forget where they come from. Sometimes when you're put in the limelight and you get all this recognition or all the rest of it, you totally forget the people that helped you. You totally forget where you came from, how you were brought up, the struggles you may have gone through. Just don't forget the people who helped you get there. Don't forget where you come from and be true to yourself.
Come Train With Us
Keep your family healthy and active with fun, kid-friendly workouts you can do together. Visit the Nike Training Club App to get access to the “For The Whole Family” collection of 16 Member-exclusive workouts.