Retired Olympic shot-putter Dame Valerie Adams is regarded as one of the nation's best athletes.
Adams has brought home four Olympic medals over the course of her athletic career, five Commonwealth Games medals - and was named the youngest Dame in New Zealand's history.
She joined Piney to discuss her accomplishments ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine
from NEWSTALKSEDB, New.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Zealand and the Home Street Jewison at All.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Weekend Force Road to Paris twenty twenty four.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Man, it is rushing up now eleven days until composition
starts at the Paris Olympic Games. We continue traversing the
Road to Paris by celebrating some of our great Olympians
from Olympic Games past. Dame Valerie Adams is one of
New Zealand's most successful and celebrated Olympic athletes. She competed
(00:49):
in the shot put at five Olympic Games from two
thousand and four to twenty twenty one, becoming the second
New Zealand woman after Barbara Kendall to compete at five Olympics.
At her second Games, she won gold in Beijing in
two thousand and eight.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
And the way she goes now in a bit to
be the Olympic champion, that is more like it very good. Indeed,
she'll be a comfortable leader after this at twenty meters
fifty six, that's fantastic. It's Valerie and the V is
for victorious.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
And she repeated that feat at London twenty twelve, won
silver in Rio twenty sixteen and bronze at the last
Olympics in Tokyo in twenty twenty one. She is a
four time world champion, a four time World indoor champion,
and she also attended five Commonwealth Games, winning three gold
and two silver medals from two thousand and two to
(01:42):
twenty eighteen. At one point she won one hundred and
seven successive shot put competitions. In twenty fourteen, she was
named World Athletics Female Athlete of the Year. She won
the ngc's Lonsdale Cup five times, was the Hellberg Sportswoman
of the Year for seven consecutive years from two thousand
(02:02):
and six, and the Hellberg Supreme Award winner three times.
In the twenty seventeen New Year's Honors, she was named
a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit,
making her the youngest Dame in New Zealand history. She
had previously been made an Officer of the New Zealand
Order of Merit. Dame Valerie Adams is in studio with us.
(02:23):
Thank you so much for taking the time, Dame Valerie
to come in. It is such a glittering CV that
I've just read out. Where do your Olympic gold medals
sit in amongst everything else that you've achieved in your career?
Speaker 4 (02:37):
In a box in a safe at home. They come
up from time to time, believe pretty much.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
In terms of the context where you put Olympic gold
in amongst everything else she've achieved, Where do they sit
in that regard?
Speaker 4 (02:53):
Pretty high up. You know, the Olympics is the pinnacle
of your sporting career, and everybody strives and can and
train so hard for this very one moment which we're
all about to enjoy in a few weeks times, so
looking forward to that.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Your last Olympics Tokyo three years ago. I remember there
was real emotion when you won bronze in Tokyo. Can
you take us back to Tokyo?
Speaker 4 (03:16):
Yeah, Tokyo was quite a journey and it was very
emotional and all the feels mentally, physically and emotionally. And
that was only because you know, I had my son.
I needly carcked it and there was a delayed game,
so I had to be separated from my children for
a very very long time. It was a games that
was quite unique with COVID and being locked out on
(03:39):
you know, of certain places and doing things in the
very specific way. But all in all, I'm very glad
that we had the opportunity and the games you know,
continue to happen in twenty twenty one. But winning that
bronze medal in Tokyo was felt so much more special
to me than winning my two gold medals, and that
was only because of the journey it took to get there,
(03:59):
but also being there as a mum of two was
quite special for me.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
At times on that journey to Tokyo. Did you think
you weren't going to get there?
Speaker 4 (04:07):
Totally? Shit, Yes, absolutely, you know, for a moment there
like I, you know, as as I mentioned, you know,
like I nearly when I had my son, didn't nearly
make it, and then COVID happened, and you know, old
girl was aging, so the body wasn't responding as well
as she could. Having two major operations in the abdomen
area was not ideal. It's not ideal preparation. But I
(04:31):
still continue to have hope and I still continue to
use those experiences to kind of inspire me and motivate
me towards my goals, because I still had this inkling
of hope that I could make it to Tokyo. Everybody
knows the type of competitor I am. I'm not a
numbers person. So ten months after having a C section
(04:51):
and having two major operations after that, I did qualify
for the Olympics, which was fantastic, and it was like,
you know, I got punched my ticket and all the
rest of it to go there. But equally, I knew
that if I didn't throw nineteen meters by a certain competition,
I was going to pull myself out. So that's the
type of pressure I put on myself, even at the
stage I was at age wise and physically. And once
(05:14):
I was able to meet those criterias, my personal criterias,
and I knew I had the opportunity to go to Tokyo,
but I also I was there to win a medal.
I wasn't there just to be a number. If that
makes any sense, it does. It makes total sense. Your daughter,
of course, if we go back a few years, was
born in twenty seventeen. Was it always the plan to
return to elite level competition after that? Well, six months
(05:36):
after having a VIC section, Yes, I had every intention
to turn up to their Commath Games. And to hold
a silver medal at a six month old baby in
one hand. That was quite a unique experience, but one
I haven't haven't embarked on obviously. But it was very,
very tough. But I always knew that I wanted to
go to those commath Games, even though it was a
(05:57):
lot earlier than the other championships. That was my driving
force take to get back into shape and to be
able to turn up and perform. And it was a
very difficult. I'm not gonna lie, I'm having a c
section for the very first time. To have to get
her out was quite intense. I didn't realize that, you know,
things moved a bit differently, things are a little bit looser.
So I had to modify training to be able to
(06:19):
get to those games. And I'm glad I.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Did incredible just on twenty twenty one as well, your
sister Lisa one Paralympic gold in the shop put in
Tokyo under your guidance. That must have been incredibly special
as well.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Was it?
Speaker 4 (06:30):
Oh, it was wonderful. It was awesome to be able
to compete at the Olympics and then stay on for
the Paralympics, to be able to support Lisa in her
journey towards her gold medal. You know, it was a
fantastic experience for the both of us and also for
the New Zealand team. And to be able to be
part of that Paralympic Games. I've never been a part
of something like that before. Was quite special just to
see things, to see how they do things. But man,
(06:53):
the athletes at the Paralympics this phenomenal. They're absolutely just
special human beings who do extraordinary things. And I was very,
very very wowed by just meeting these athletes and just
seeing what they're able to do, what the capabilities are
with the physical disabilities that they did did have, was
quite extraordinary.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Your first Olympics Athens two thousand and four, But I
think you just had an appendectomy. Yes, and you never
go you never go the easy way, do you No, that's.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
Boring, that's bory No. Yes, the yeah. Six weeks before
the Olympic Games in Olympia, I had appendicitis and I
had yeah. Yeah, it wasn't very good, so I was
had surgery, managed to make it on the plane, manage
to perform a like, have two competitions before competing in Olympia,
but the downfall to all of that was a, Yes,
(07:44):
having an abdominal surgery, but b not having the competition
fitness to be able to perform better at those games. However,
as a youngster, I finished tenth in the day. Now
sitting at fifth position. Who knows, with technology another way,
they're testing all the all the samples at the moment,
they could change, but I'm sitting at fifth place at
the moment. At my very first Olympic Games.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
All right, gold in Beijing in two thousand and eight,
What stands out most vividly about those games.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
It was one that ran to the box, like everything
ran to plan. It was a perfect competition. I dominated
from the start, I out, I did all my competitors mentally,
physically and emotionally, and I was able to perform at
my very best PB gold medal. It was just everything
was perfect. I cannot fault those games at all because
(08:33):
everything just ran absolutely amazingly well for me. But quite
an amazing competition all in all, because you know Beijing,
and to be able to go to Beijing two months
before the games and all the smug and everything else,
and then two months later it was like you're in
paradise was quite extraordinary to experience. But yeah, perfect competition.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
When you are throwing at your best like that, what
does that feel like? Both physically and mentally? Are you
in some sort of flow state when that happens.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
It's easy. It's so easy that you're like, oh okay, sweet,
that's when you're in that state and when you're when
you're competing and things go really really well. Technically, it's
such an easy throw and it's so effortless that it's
it's an incredible feeling. However, that happens once in a while,
(09:23):
but when it does happen, it's it's quite amazing. So, yeah, you.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
Won gold in twenty twelve as well, but it was
only awarded to you after the disqualification of Nadzia a Stopchuk.
I seem to remember and correct me if I'm wrong
that when you got the silver there was a little
bit of almost blowback as though silver wasn't good enough
you eventually got gold. Did all of that dilute the
achievements at all for you?
Speaker 4 (09:46):
You know, like I think that journey to the twenty
twelve Olympics, you know, everything happened nothing like a bit
of drama right, and nothing goes easy, you know, not
being entered into the Olympics in the first instance, to
being entered and mean to finish with the silver medal. Absolutely,
it was very devastating on the day, But and then
getting it awarded seven days later, did it daylue Not
(10:06):
at all. It just showcase the fact that I was
able to compete under the pressure that I was under,
that I was in and bring the best that I
could on the day and it eventually paid off. The
hardest thing for me was the mental battle and the
I guess the comments and you know, people's opinions on
the way I performed on the day that I should
(10:28):
have won the gold medal, because you know, that was
the goal, and ultimately for me, I felt like a
failure on the day. But then seven days later I
became a national hero. So lots of learnings from that
and that I want, you know, continue to scream out
loud that you know, we need to celebrate every medal
this country gets, and everybody strives for a gold medal.
It's not for lack of want or lack of trying,
(10:48):
but it's sport and it does happen. Fortunately for me,
I got awarded it. Seven days later they caught her
and they you know, disqualified her. But for a lot
of athletes, you know, it could be years down the line,
eight years, ten years with until they get their gold medal.
So I'm one of the lucky ones. However, the damage
was done when the competition definition. Then I try to
get myself back up after that, but yeah, it is
(11:11):
the way the cookie crumbles. You just got to be
able to, I guess stay strong.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Yeah, but you were robbed of standing on top of
the podium, you know, in London and hearing New Zealand's
national anthem again. I know you heard it once we
got back here and there was a special ceremony and
it was it was awesome, But I mean, did you
feel robbed in any way looking back at that at
that moment, one hundred percent.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
That was probably the hardest part is actually that moment
was taken away from you. I had my family members
there who traveled all the way from New Zealand. I
had friends, eighty thousand people, and it was a moment
that I should have been able to enjoy standing up
on a dice. Yet I had to set up on
a dice on the second place together and actually listen
to her national anthem, and that was hard, and it
was a moment that you can never ever get back.
(11:54):
And I know they we did something here back in
New Zealand, and it would probably never happen again in
my lifetime, something like that happening here in New Zealand. However,
that moment was taken away from me, and yes, I
was robbed of it, but I'm glad she was caught.
You know, you always got to try and look at
the bright side. And now it's good, you know, to
look back on it. And actually I guess Honan on
(12:15):
that a bit more. But in that moment, absolutely I
had a few colorful words to express.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Did you know she was cheating?
Speaker 4 (12:24):
Yeah, yeah, it's I mean, yes, yes, absolutely, I mean
it's my coach said something up for the competition and
just you know, kept quiet, and he got ridiculed for it,
because then you need to said because they are so
you know, what do you think about her performances? And
Jean Pierre said, you know, I have nothing to say
except you know, wait and see he knew something was
(12:45):
going on. And then sure enough seven days later, but
everything kind of came to life because I beat her
in May at the Diamond League in Rome. I threw
twenty one meters and it was a great competition for me.
And then she went back to Belarus and she never
exited Belarus until she came to London, so then she
was she went into to Belarus and she competed and
stayed there within themitary confinements and then that's you know,
(13:09):
where she was training. So as far as drug testers
and things like that goes, it was very difficult for
them to even get into the country to test her.
And you know, like it's it is what it is,
and they do whatever they can to win those medals.
But she's still seen as a national hero and they
took back the medal when she did win in twenty
twelve and celebrated and all the rest of it. But yeah,
(13:32):
it's just one of those things you got to deal
with within sports, and unfortunately it's systematic from the top,
you know, as opposed to an individual bid to be
able to do this.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Crazy Well, history will judge her and her country. Just
on Rio sixteen Dameville, another medal, this time silver. Again.
You led into the final round, any tinge of disappointment.
You couldn't get gold.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
There's ploys that's appointment if you don't get gold. But
equally again, for me personally, it was like I hadn't
thrown that far in like three years. I had two
major operations that took me out of twenty fifteen. And
these are all the things that people don't know. You know,
people only see the medals. And yes, would have loved
to get the three pete. That was always our goal.
But getting nubbed in the first in the last round
(14:11):
absolutely sucked. But the same thing. It's sport. You win some,
you lose some. But I don't see it as losing.
I see it as like I got second best on
the day, like you know, say lovey, And I was
able to enjoy it myself and celebrate it because the
journey it took to get to Rio in itself was very,
very difficult. But it would have been great to get
the three pete and hey, all good, you know, oh good.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
Love it.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
Silver medal is great. You know, people will kill for
a bloody silver medal.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
So per, when do you think you were at the
absolute peak of your powers in your career? When were
you throwing in that flow state where it was as
you said before, easy, When was that twenty twelve?
Speaker 4 (14:47):
Absolutely twenty twelve when I moved to Switzerland and trained
to Jean Pierre under his guidance, and basically twenty twelve
and so twenty eleven when I broke the world championship record,
and that was the start of it. And then basically
into the twenty twelve season, I was pretty much unstoppable
and I was my best physically, mentally, emotionally, like I
(15:09):
was humming on all four Cylanders, and I'm not saying
all the other seasons I wasn't humming. That just stood
out for me from a physical point of view, in
particular because when I moved to Switzerland and when I
approached Ian Pierre to take me on, he basically like
told me if I wanted to Survivor's training, I needed
to lose a bit of weight and you know, get
fit to be able to survive it. And I took
(15:30):
that information, came home, trained so hard to get myself
into a physical state which I was where I was
able to perform, went back to Switzerland and then we're
like basically head down, bump up, and worked so hard
that in six seven months time, I went to the
World Championships in Daegu, broke the championship record which had
been starre there since nineteen eighty seven. So that was
(15:50):
a fantastic competition for me.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Fantastic present day. It seems a silly question for a
mum of two, but what takes up most of your
time now?
Speaker 4 (15:59):
I don't know. I asked my manager a bit like
if everything really life is very busy at the moment,
very complex, but it's it's great, like it's with I'm
the I have the opportunity to be able to do
some things that I really want to do, make some changes,
(16:20):
be a part of like I'm being a chairperson of
the Athletes Commissioner World Championship at the World Athletics has
been amazing, been part of the counsel to be the
athlete's voice from a global point of view, and with
higher form of sport New Zealand has been on the
board there. Then I've got no store, heavily involved all
my sponsors, which the bloody fantastic and then two young
(16:41):
children both at primary school now, which is awesome. So
and that single mom life. You know, it's not always easy,
you know, when you're trying to work and navigate and
organize everybody. It's just all part and parcel of what
we do. So life is very busy. I'm busier now
than I was before because you know, as an athlete,
you can just be like, no, I can't. I can't
because I'm training, training, training. But it's a great opportunity
(17:02):
right now to make some changes and to see progress
and help people where you can, and be a part
of great charities like you know, Jamie's for June and
things like that, which actually are very close to your heart,
especially within your community. But watch the space, what's amazing.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Final question is the one I've asked all of our
guests on this feature, and you actually alluded to it
at the start about I mean we're on Earth. Do
you keep all of your medals? Are they really just
in a box somewhere?
Speaker 4 (17:28):
Yeah, they're in a box in the safe, like I'm
not kidding. So from time to time I have to
take them places. I'm yanked them out, and then the
kids come and have a little play and throw them around,
and then I take them away with me and then
they go back into the box. So yeah, I mean
my house is pretty much for all the toys and
kids shoes and you know, kids clothes and all the
rest of it, because it's all about them, right, Like
they don't actually really give them a but what mum's done.
(17:49):
But I do laugh from time to time when walking
down the supermarket and people want to take photos and
my six year old daughters giving them the side eye
as if to ask, like, what are you doing? So
she doesn't understand. But I don't really know, apart from
the other day where my son's classies five went to
the library and there's an Olympic book and he opened
and he goes, this is my mum and he had
(18:09):
a massive grin from cheek to cheeck and the teacher
sent me a phone and I thought that was really sweet.
So one day they'll know what their mum's done, but
for now they don't really care.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
Incredible career. Dame Valerie Ongoing, your work is just amazing.
As chair of the World Athletics Athletes Commission. Enjoy your
trip to Paris as a fan for the first time
and I think, what two decades and thanks for taking
the time for a chat today.
Speaker 4 (18:32):
Awesome. Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
No, thank you for popping in Dame bel Dame Valerie
Adams our latest guest on the Road to Paris. It's
been amazing to catch up with all of these former Olympians.
Another one. There's some great stories and insight from Dame
Valerie Adams. One more guest on the Road to Paris.
Next Sunday, just after the two o'clock news. Don't forget
the news Talks. He'd be as an official radio partner
(18:55):
of the upcoming Paris Olympics and on Gold Sport you
will get through the night coverage, wall to wall commentary
of Kiwi's and others doing amazing things at the Paris
Olympic Games.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, Listen live
to News Talks at b weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine
from NEWSTALKSEDB, New.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Zealand and the Home Street Jewison at All.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Weekend Force Road to Paris twenty twenty four.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Man, it is rushing up now eleven days until composition
starts at the Paris Olympic Games. We continue traversing the
Road to Paris by celebrating some of our great Olympians
from Olympic Games past. Dame Valerie Adams is one of
New Zealand's most successful and celebrated Olympic athletes. She competed
(00:49):
in the shot put at five Olympic Games from two
thousand and four to twenty twenty one, becoming the second
New Zealand woman after Barbara Kendall to compete at five Olympics.
At her second Games, she won gold in Beijing in
two thousand and eight.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
And the way she goes now in a bit to
be the Olympic champion, that is more like it very good. Indeed,
she'll be a comfortable leader after this at twenty meters
fifty six, that's fantastic. It's Valerie and the V is
for victorious.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
And she repeated that feat at London twenty twelve, won
silver in Rio twenty sixteen and bronze at the last
Olympics in Tokyo in twenty twenty one. She is a
four time world champion, a four time World indoor champion,
and she also attended five Commonwealth Games, winning three gold
and two silver medals from two thousand and two to
(01:42):
twenty eighteen. At one point she won one hundred and
seven successive shot put competitions. In twenty fourteen, she was
named World Athletics Female Athlete of the Year. She won
the ngc's Lonsdale Cup five times, was the Hellberg Sportswoman
of the Year for seven consecutive years from two thousand
(02:02):
and six, and the Hellberg Supreme Award winner three times.
In the twenty seventeen New Year's Honors, she was named
a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit,
making her the youngest Dame in New Zealand history. She
had previously been made an Officer of the New Zealand
Order of Merit. Dame Valerie Adams is in studio with us.
(02:23):
Thank you so much for taking the time, Dame Valerie
to come in. It is such a glittering CV that
I've just read out. Where do your Olympic gold medals
sit in amongst everything else that you've achieved in your career?
Speaker 4 (02:37):
In a box in a safe at home. They come
up from time to time, believe pretty much.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
In terms of the context where you put Olympic gold
in amongst everything else she've achieved, Where do they sit
in that regard?
Speaker 4 (02:53):
Pretty high up. You know, the Olympics is the pinnacle
of your sporting career, and everybody strives and can and
train so hard for this very one moment which we're
all about to enjoy in a few weeks times, so
looking forward to that.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Your last Olympics Tokyo three years ago. I remember there
was real emotion when you won bronze in Tokyo. Can
you take us back to Tokyo?
Speaker 4 (03:16):
Yeah, Tokyo was quite a journey and it was very
emotional and all the feels mentally, physically and emotionally. And
that was only because you know, I had my son.
I needly carcked it and there was a delayed game,
so I had to be separated from my children for
a very very long time. It was a games that
was quite unique with COVID and being locked out on
(03:39):
you know, of certain places and doing things in the
very specific way. But all in all, I'm very glad
that we had the opportunity and the games you know,
continue to happen in twenty twenty one. But winning that
bronze medal in Tokyo was felt so much more special
to me than winning my two gold medals, and that
was only because of the journey it took to get there,
(03:59):
but also being there as a mum of two was
quite special for me.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
At times on that journey to Tokyo. Did you think
you weren't going to get there?
Speaker 4 (04:07):
Totally? Shit, Yes, absolutely, you know, for a moment there
like I, you know, as as I mentioned, you know,
like I nearly when I had my son, didn't nearly
make it, and then COVID happened, and you know, old
girl was aging, so the body wasn't responding as well
as she could. Having two major operations in the abdomen
area was not ideal. It's not ideal preparation. But I
(04:31):
still continue to have hope and I still continue to
use those experiences to kind of inspire me and motivate
me towards my goals, because I still had this inkling
of hope that I could make it to Tokyo. Everybody
knows the type of competitor I am. I'm not a
numbers person. So ten months after having a C section
(04:51):
and having two major operations after that, I did qualify
for the Olympics, which was fantastic, and it was like,
you know, I got punched my ticket and all the
rest of it to go there. But equally, I knew
that if I didn't throw nineteen meters by a certain competition,
I was going to pull myself out. So that's the
type of pressure I put on myself, even at the
stage I was at age wise and physically. And once
(05:14):
I was able to meet those criterias, my personal criterias,
and I knew I had the opportunity to go to Tokyo,
but I also I was there to win a medal.
I wasn't there just to be a number. If that
makes any sense, it does. It makes total sense. Your daughter,
of course, if we go back a few years, was
born in twenty seventeen. Was it always the plan to
return to elite level competition after that? Well, six months
(05:36):
after having a VIC section, Yes, I had every intention
to turn up to their Commath Games. And to hold
a silver medal at a six month old baby in
one hand. That was quite a unique experience, but one
I haven't haven't embarked on obviously. But it was very,
very tough. But I always knew that I wanted to
go to those commath Games, even though it was a
(05:57):
lot earlier than the other championships. That was my driving
force take to get back into shape and to be
able to turn up and perform. And it was a
very difficult. I'm not gonna lie, I'm having a c
section for the very first time. To have to get
her out was quite intense. I didn't realize that, you know,
things moved a bit differently, things are a little bit looser.
So I had to modify training to be able to
(06:19):
get to those games. And I'm glad I.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Did incredible just on twenty twenty one as well, your
sister Lisa one Paralympic gold in the shop put in
Tokyo under your guidance. That must have been incredibly special
as well.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Was it?
Speaker 4 (06:30):
Oh, it was wonderful. It was awesome to be able
to compete at the Olympics and then stay on for
the Paralympics, to be able to support Lisa in her
journey towards her gold medal. You know, it was a
fantastic experience for the both of us and also for
the New Zealand team. And to be able to be
part of that Paralympic Games. I've never been a part
of something like that before. Was quite special just to
see things, to see how they do things. But man,
(06:53):
the athletes at the Paralympics this phenomenal. They're absolutely just
special human beings who do extraordinary things. And I was very,
very very wowed by just meeting these athletes and just
seeing what they're able to do, what the capabilities are
with the physical disabilities that they did did have, was
quite extraordinary.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Your first Olympics Athens two thousand and four, But I
think you just had an appendectomy. Yes, and you never
go you never go the easy way, do you No, that's.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
Boring, that's bory No. Yes, the yeah. Six weeks before
the Olympic Games in Olympia, I had appendicitis and I
had yeah. Yeah, it wasn't very good, so I was
had surgery, managed to make it on the plane, manage
to perform a like, have two competitions before competing in Olympia,
but the downfall to all of that was a, Yes,
(07:44):
having an abdominal surgery, but b not having the competition
fitness to be able to perform better at those games. However,
as a youngster, I finished tenth in the day. Now
sitting at fifth position. Who knows, with technology another way,
they're testing all the all the samples at the moment,
they could change, but I'm sitting at fifth place at
the moment. At my very first Olympic Games.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
All right, gold in Beijing in two thousand and eight,
What stands out most vividly about those games.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
It was one that ran to the box, like everything
ran to plan. It was a perfect competition. I dominated
from the start, I out, I did all my competitors mentally,
physically and emotionally, and I was able to perform at
my very best PB gold medal. It was just everything
was perfect. I cannot fault those games at all because
(08:33):
everything just ran absolutely amazingly well for me. But quite
an amazing competition all in all, because you know Beijing,
and to be able to go to Beijing two months
before the games and all the smug and everything else,
and then two months later it was like you're in
paradise was quite extraordinary to experience. But yeah, perfect competition.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
When you are throwing at your best like that, what
does that feel like? Both physically and mentally? Are you
in some sort of flow state when that happens.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
It's easy. It's so easy that you're like, oh okay, sweet,
that's when you're in that state and when you're when
you're competing and things go really really well. Technically, it's
such an easy throw and it's so effortless that it's
it's an incredible feeling. However, that happens once in a while,
(09:23):
but when it does happen, it's it's quite amazing. So, yeah, you.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
Won gold in twenty twelve as well, but it was
only awarded to you after the disqualification of Nadzia a Stopchuk.
I seem to remember and correct me if I'm wrong
that when you got the silver there was a little
bit of almost blowback as though silver wasn't good enough
you eventually got gold. Did all of that dilute the
achievements at all for you?
Speaker 4 (09:46):
You know, like I think that journey to the twenty
twelve Olympics, you know, everything happened nothing like a bit
of drama right, and nothing goes easy, you know, not
being entered into the Olympics in the first instance, to
being entered and mean to finish with the silver medal. Absolutely,
it was very devastating on the day, But and then
getting it awarded seven days later, did it daylue Not
(10:06):
at all. It just showcase the fact that I was
able to compete under the pressure that I was under,
that I was in and bring the best that I
could on the day and it eventually paid off. The
hardest thing for me was the mental battle and the
I guess the comments and you know, people's opinions on
the way I performed on the day that I should
(10:28):
have won the gold medal, because you know, that was
the goal, and ultimately for me, I felt like a
failure on the day. But then seven days later I
became a national hero. So lots of learnings from that
and that I want, you know, continue to scream out
loud that you know, we need to celebrate every medal
this country gets, and everybody strives for a gold medal.
It's not for lack of want or lack of trying,
(10:48):
but it's sport and it does happen. Fortunately for me,
I got awarded it. Seven days later they caught her
and they you know, disqualified her. But for a lot
of athletes, you know, it could be years down the line,
eight years, ten years with until they get their gold medal.
So I'm one of the lucky ones. However, the damage
was done when the competition definition. Then I try to
get myself back up after that, but yeah, it is
(11:11):
the way the cookie crumbles. You just got to be
able to, I guess stay strong.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Yeah, but you were robbed of standing on top of
the podium, you know, in London and hearing New Zealand's
national anthem again. I know you heard it once we
got back here and there was a special ceremony and
it was it was awesome, But I mean, did you
feel robbed in any way looking back at that at
that moment, one hundred percent.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
That was probably the hardest part is actually that moment
was taken away from you. I had my family members
there who traveled all the way from New Zealand. I
had friends, eighty thousand people, and it was a moment
that I should have been able to enjoy standing up
on a dice. Yet I had to set up on
a dice on the second place together and actually listen
to her national anthem, and that was hard, and it
was a moment that you can never ever get back.
(11:54):
And I know they we did something here back in
New Zealand, and it would probably never happen again in
my lifetime, something like that happening here in New Zealand. However,
that moment was taken away from me, and yes, I
was robbed of it, but I'm glad she was caught.
You know, you always got to try and look at
the bright side. And now it's good, you know, to
look back on it. And actually I guess Honan on
(12:15):
that a bit more. But in that moment, absolutely I
had a few colorful words to express.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Did you know she was cheating?
Speaker 4 (12:24):
Yeah, yeah, it's I mean, yes, yes, absolutely, I mean
it's my coach said something up for the competition and
just you know, kept quiet, and he got ridiculed for it,
because then you need to said because they are so
you know, what do you think about her performances? And
Jean Pierre said, you know, I have nothing to say
except you know, wait and see he knew something was
(12:45):
going on. And then sure enough seven days later, but
everything kind of came to life because I beat her
in May at the Diamond League in Rome. I threw
twenty one meters and it was a great competition for me.
And then she went back to Belarus and she never
exited Belarus until she came to London, so then she
was she went into to Belarus and she competed and
stayed there within themitary confinements and then that's you know,
(13:09):
where she was training. So as far as drug testers
and things like that goes, it was very difficult for
them to even get into the country to test her.
And you know, like it's it is what it is,
and they do whatever they can to win those medals.
But she's still seen as a national hero and they
took back the medal when she did win in twenty
twelve and celebrated and all the rest of it. But yeah,
(13:32):
it's just one of those things you got to deal
with within sports, and unfortunately it's systematic from the top,
you know, as opposed to an individual bid to be
able to do this.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Crazy Well, history will judge her and her country. Just
on Rio sixteen Dameville, another medal, this time silver. Again.
You led into the final round, any tinge of disappointment.
You couldn't get gold.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
There's ploys that's appointment if you don't get gold. But
equally again, for me personally, it was like I hadn't
thrown that far in like three years. I had two
major operations that took me out of twenty fifteen. And
these are all the things that people don't know. You know,
people only see the medals. And yes, would have loved
to get the three pete. That was always our goal.
But getting nubbed in the first in the last round
(14:11):
absolutely sucked. But the same thing. It's sport. You win some,
you lose some. But I don't see it as losing.
I see it as like I got second best on
the day, like you know, say lovey, And I was
able to enjoy it myself and celebrate it because the
journey it took to get to Rio in itself was very,
very difficult. But it would have been great to get
the three pete and hey, all good, you know, oh good.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
Love it.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
Silver medal is great. You know, people will kill for
a bloody silver medal.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
So per, when do you think you were at the
absolute peak of your powers in your career? When were
you throwing in that flow state where it was as
you said before, easy, When was that twenty twelve?
Speaker 4 (14:47):
Absolutely twenty twelve when I moved to Switzerland and trained
to Jean Pierre under his guidance, and basically twenty twelve
and so twenty eleven when I broke the world championship record,
and that was the start of it. And then basically
into the twenty twelve season, I was pretty much unstoppable
and I was my best physically, mentally, emotionally, like I
(15:09):
was humming on all four Cylanders, and I'm not saying
all the other seasons I wasn't humming. That just stood
out for me from a physical point of view, in
particular because when I moved to Switzerland and when I
approached Ian Pierre to take me on, he basically like
told me if I wanted to Survivor's training, I needed
to lose a bit of weight and you know, get
fit to be able to survive it. And I took
(15:30):
that information, came home, trained so hard to get myself
into a physical state which I was where I was
able to perform, went back to Switzerland and then we're
like basically head down, bump up, and worked so hard
that in six seven months time, I went to the
World Championships in Daegu, broke the championship record which had
been starre there since nineteen eighty seven. So that was
(15:50):
a fantastic competition for me.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Fantastic present day. It seems a silly question for a
mum of two, but what takes up most of your
time now?
Speaker 4 (15:59):
I don't know. I asked my manager a bit like
if everything really life is very busy at the moment,
very complex, but it's it's great, like it's with I'm
the I have the opportunity to be able to do
some things that I really want to do, make some changes,
(16:20):
be a part of like I'm being a chairperson of
the Athletes Commissioner World Championship at the World Athletics has
been amazing, been part of the counsel to be the
athlete's voice from a global point of view, and with
higher form of sport New Zealand has been on the
board there. Then I've got no store, heavily involved all
my sponsors, which the bloody fantastic and then two young
(16:41):
children both at primary school now, which is awesome. So
and that single mom life. You know, it's not always easy,
you know, when you're trying to work and navigate and
organize everybody. It's just all part and parcel of what
we do. So life is very busy. I'm busier now
than I was before because you know, as an athlete,
you can just be like, no, I can't. I can't
because I'm training, training, training. But it's a great opportunity
(17:02):
right now to make some changes and to see progress
and help people where you can, and be a part
of great charities like you know, Jamie's for June and
things like that, which actually are very close to your heart,
especially within your community. But watch the space, what's amazing.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Final question is the one I've asked all of our
guests on this feature, and you actually alluded to it
at the start about I mean we're on Earth. Do
you keep all of your medals? Are they really just
in a box somewhere?
Speaker 4 (17:28):
Yeah, they're in a box in the safe, like I'm
not kidding. So from time to time I have to
take them places. I'm yanked them out, and then the
kids come and have a little play and throw them around,
and then I take them away with me and then
they go back into the box. So yeah, I mean
my house is pretty much for all the toys and
kids shoes and you know, kids clothes and all the
rest of it, because it's all about them, right, Like
they don't actually really give them a but what mum's done.
(17:49):
But I do laugh from time to time when walking
down the supermarket and people want to take photos and
my six year old daughters giving them the side eye
as if to ask, like, what are you doing? So
she doesn't understand. But I don't really know, apart from
the other day where my son's classies five went to
the library and there's an Olympic book and he opened
and he goes, this is my mum and he had
(18:09):
a massive grin from cheek to cheeck and the teacher
sent me a phone and I thought that was really sweet.
So one day they'll know what their mum's done, but
for now they don't really care.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
Incredible career. Dame Valerie Ongoing, your work is just amazing.
As chair of the World Athletics Athletes Commission. Enjoy your
trip to Paris as a fan for the first time
and I think, what two decades and thanks for taking
the time for a chat today.
Speaker 4 (18:32):
Awesome. Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
No, thank you for popping in Dame bel Dame Valerie
Adams our latest guest on the Road to Paris. It's
been amazing to catch up with all of these former Olympians.
Another one. There's some great stories and insight from Dame
Valerie Adams. One more guest on the Road to Paris.
Next Sunday, just after the two o'clock news. Don't forget
the news Talks. He'd be as an official radio partner
(18:55):
of the upcoming Paris Olympics and on Gold Sport you
will get through the night coverage, wall to wall commentary
of Kiwi's and others doing amazing things at the Paris
Olympic Games.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, Listen live
to News Talks at b weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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