Adams: It’s a girl

New Zealand shot put star Dame Valerie Adams has given birth to a baby girl, Kimoana Josephine Adams-Price.

Adams, a two-time Olympic champion, and husband Gabriel Price welcomed the arrival of their first child with a heartfelt message on Twitter.

‘‘’Never knew a luh luh luh a love like this’ - Welcome to the world, Kimoana Josephine Adams-Price,’’ Adams wrote.

The 33-year-old put her career on hold to fulfil her dream of having a family.

However, the plan is to return to competition in time for April’s Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

At 33 weeks pregnant, Adams was still maintaining her training after receiving a medical clearance to lift ‘‘significantly lower’’ weights, although she was being monitored on a weekly basis.

‘‘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,’’ Adams’ manager Nick Cowan told Stuff earlier this year.

One of New Zealand’s greatest athletes, Adams said in May that she had given some thought into the expectations that may come with being her child.

But she was adamant there would be no pressure at home to follow in her footsteps.

‘‘One thing I want to make sure is that I don’t do is push my child to be the second Valerie, to break records. I think they’re going to get that enough,’’ Adams told Seven

Sharp.

‘‘If they want to be a ballet dancer, please be my guest. I don’t know if there’s many ballet Tongan ballet dancers but hey, I will support them with whatever they want to do.’’