Dame Val aims to inspire
Athlete hopes her honour opens doors to Pasifika
Dame Valerie Adams offered a simple message after her investiture at Government House in Auckland yesterday for services to athletics. “I hope this opens many doors to inspire our Pacific people, and lets them know it is possible to do what you’ve got to do and get reward for it,” the Kiwi shot put legend said.
“This would be on a par with winning an Olympic gold medal. It was an emotional ceremony because it’s so meaningful to the country, my family and myself as a proud Kiwi.
“I don’t think you can stop giving or helping at community, school or church level. That’s my duty now. I’m helping out a discus thrower and another couple of girls who are trying to lose weight. The best thing you can give someone is your time, and my schedule is allowing for that.”
Adams has ruled out competing at August’s world championships in London. She has turned her attention to next year’s Gold Coast Commonwealth Games if she can get a “second wind of energy”, with the option open to compete at the Tokyo Olympics.
With the retirement of coach JeanPierre Egger, Adams is being mentored by strength and conditioning coach Angus Ross and Ath- letics New Zealand high performance manager Scott Goodman.
“It’s been a good time to look after myself and give my body some TLC.
“It’s the first time in four years I haven’t had surgery post-season.”
In September, Adams hinted that starting a family with husband Gabriel Price might also be a priority.
The double Olympic shot put champion was invested by Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy before Price and several family and friends.
Dressed in a pink gown wrapped in a Tongan ta’ovala [the traditional mat around the waist], the athlete identified herself as “the one in high-vis”. Adams has built an enviable CV, but the recognition of a damehood was as much about throwing a 4kg ball as it was about her impact on historically marginalised Pacific Islanders from South Auckland, where she grew up. Her feats have instilled belief in her community and beyond, also acknowledged by her appointment as a Pacific Islands sports ambassador.
HWatch the video from the investiture at nzherald.co.nz
At 32, Adams is one of the youngest appointments as a dame or knight. New Zealand-born but British-based Naomi James was 29 when recognised for becoming the first woman to sail single-handed around the world via Cape Horn; a 33-year-old Edmund Hillary was knighted in 1953 after he climbed Mt Everest, Susan Devoy was made a dame in 1998 for services to squash at 34.
Bulldozing barriers is nothing new for Adams. She is the only woman to win four consecutive athletics world championships in an individual event; set a record 56 straight wins at international-ranked meets from 2010 to 2014; and was the first female thrower awarded the world governing body’s “athlete of the year” title.
She even shattered the gender divide in Tonga, becoming the first woman matapule or chief of Houma, the village of her late mother Lilika. She was named Tongi Tupe Oe Taua, to acknowledge her sporting feats.
At Rio she came within a stone’s throw of New Zealand Olympic immortality. After recovering from a raft of injuries and surgeries, she dreamed of becoming our first athlete to win gold at three consecutive Games, but American Michelle Carter pushed her to silver. Adams tried shot put at 13 at Southern Cross Campus, Mangere East.
Her mother died when she was 15, but not before making her daughter promise she would do everything possible to fulfil her talents.
Her appointment as a dame is proof she is keeping her word.