Valerie Adams

Valerie Adam is a shot putter from New Zealand. She is the reigning women's Olympic champion and three-time World champion, two-time Commonwealth and World Indoor champion. She first began shot putting in a competition at school when she was 14, she was also seen by Kristen Hellier. Valerie's mother died from cancer when she was 16. Valerie Adams first Olympic Games was in Athens in 2004. In the qualifying rounds Valerie finished in ninth place, missing the cut for the final. One of finalist failed a drug test, dropping Valerie into eighth place. In 2008 Valerie Adams won the gold medal in the shotput at the Beijing Olympic Games. Kristen Hellier said that Valerie is an amazingly competitive temperament, and the mental ability to perform well.