Mum’s the word for delighted shot put champion
Dame Valerie Adams’ manager is confident five months will be long enough for the pregnant shot put queen to prepare for next year’s Commonwealth Games.
Adams and husband Gabriel Price are expecting their first child in October, but the double Olympic shot put gold medallist has vowed to be on deck to defend her title in Australia next year.
If the baby is born on time, Adams will have five full months to prepare for next April’s Games on the Gold Coast, which manager Nick Cowan believes is long enough.
‘‘We’re feeling pretty confident, but we also need to have an environment that doesn’t engage pressure, rather flexibility to bring it to life,’’ Cowan told Stuff.
‘’’That’s the goal and that’s what’s going to keep her eye on the prize as she goes forward. But you’ve got to play a little bit of a wait and see. You never know what the first few months of the new-born baby are going to be like.’’
Cowan also confirmed 32-yearold Adams would continue to train through her pregnancy in a ‘‘very systematic and monitored fashion’’.
‘‘She said herself, she won’t be able to lift the massive weights that she’s done in the past. But she will be able to do things that will contribute to her training performance,’’ he said.
Adams and Price are four months pregnant and, despite being given the all-clear to go public after 12 weeks, the couple kept their baby news quiet.
Adams told NZME her instinct was to wait an extra month ‘‘just in case’’, but was now thrilled to celebrate her second piece of good news in the space of a week.
Her latest news comes just four days after she was anointed the youngest Dame in New Zealand history.
‘‘We couldn’t be happier,’’ she said. ‘‘I’ve always wanted to be a mum. This is bigger for me than any gold medal.
‘‘Gabe and I kept it between us for a very long time. I kind of freaked out a little bit because when you find out you start reading loads of things - and your brain naturally stuff.
‘‘For the first time I wasn’t able to control everything in my life and Gabe and I just felt like taking our time in letting people know was the right thing to do.
‘‘But to finally tell people, that’s really fun. We can relax a bit and start enjoying it,’’ she told NZME.
There was a clue earlier this month something might be up, after Adams’ name was missing from Athletics New Zealand’s squad for August’s World Championships in London.
In addition to eyeing the Commonwealth Games next year, Adams is also eyeing up the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
‘‘If she’s feeling free and gets a second wind then she will make an assault on Tokyo, that’s all part of our plan,’’ Cowan said.
Athletics New Zealand high performance director Scott Goodman,
"I've always wanted to be a mum. This is bigger for me than any gold medal." Valerie Adams
registers all the bad who is now assisting Adams with technical input into her coaching, said it was no secret that the couple were keen to start a family after the Rio 2016 Olympics, where she won silver at her fourth Olympic Games.
‘‘This is wonderful news for Dame Valerie and Gabe and we are very excited for them’’, said Goodman.
‘‘Dame Valerie has told us that she is keen to compete at her fifth Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in April next year, and we will do everything we can to support her in that goal’’, Goodman added.
Athletics New Zealand Chief Executive Linda Hamersley was also happy for Adams.
‘‘Dame Valerie has had some remarkable achievements in her life and this is a wonderful next stage for her and Gabe,’’ Hamersley said