Adams vows to take absence of coach in stride
ATHLETICS: There was a day when a setback like this would have knocked Valerie Adams off her stride, and rippled all the way to competition night.
But not now. Not after all she’s been through. Not with her shot at Olympic history in Rio beckoning.
Adams announced on Friday she would be heading to the Rio Games next weekend without her coach, and right-hand man, Jeanpierre Egger who is unable to travel after requiring a knee operation following a recent fall.
It’s a setback, no doubt, for the back-to-back Olympic shot put champion who is bidding to become the first New Zealander to win gold at three straight Games.
Egger, now 73, has been in Adams’ corner since 2010, and he has become somewhat of a father figure in her life.
But Adams, after battling through a succession of surgeries that wrecked her 2015 season, is strong enough, both mentally and physically, to take her coach’s absence in her stride in Rio.
The 31-year-old was certainly making the right noises after electing to make the news public.
‘‘I’m gutted that JP can’t be there in Rio with me and it’s disappointing for him,’’ she said. ‘‘But I’m in great form and really looking forward to competition day, as is JP and the rest of the team. The bus continues on with the Team Adams journey.’’
Team Adams has already moved quickly to plug the hole. Long-time physio Lou Johnson will accompany Adams to the Games and Athletics New Zealand high performance director Scott Goodman will be on the ground in Rio as additional support.
Goodman, who has a throws coaching background, has already spent time with Adams at her Swiss training base, and the two have a strong enough relationship for him to take on the temporary role.
As Adams chases that Olympic history, the attitude in the camp has been very much along the lines of ‘‘the show must go on’’.