Adams joins Walsh in Christchurch with eye on Tokyo

ATHLETICS

WELLINGTON: Shot put champion Dame Valerie Adams has changed coaches in an attempt to shake things up ahead of next year's Tokyo Olympics.

Adams is now under the guidance of Dale Stevenson, who also coaches men's champion Tom Walsh.

Adams had been coached by Athletics New Zealand's high performance director Scott Goodman since the 2016 Olympics.

Goodman said with the difficulties of training during Covid19 there had been discussion for months about joining up with Stevenson in Christchurch.

The new programme will mean Adams will travel to Christchurch for up to four days a week.

Goodman said that showed the commitment she had had to her career and to next year's Olympics.

‘‘She's a little bit uncertain with having a young family, but it reflects that she wants to be as competitive as possible in Tokyo.

‘‘In any other year all our top athletes would be training and competing overseas, so this gives them all a competitive environment.’’

Goodman said it should also work well for Stevenson's group of athletes.

‘‘Tom and Val, they play off each other, they stir each other along and so it just creates a different environment for a group of athletes all working with the same objective of trying to get the best out of themselves.’’

Stevenson is also the coach of shot putter Ryan Ballantyne and hammer thrower Lauren Bruce.

It was a big decision for Adams, who will be leaving behind two young children, including a 1yearold with Type 1 diabetes, for extended periods over the summer.

‘‘It's phenomenal. There is a lot of stress for Val and her family around that and so it's a big commitment, but the way she's looking at it she won't get another chance in her life to do this and so her family and everyone are supporting her,’’ Goodman said.

Adams (36) competed in her first Olympics in 2004 and has since won two gold medals and a silver and Tokyo 2021 is likely to be her last games. — RNZ