13 Feb 2019

Dame Val: Still throwing, pumping serious tin 8 weeks from birth

4:16 pm on 13 February 2019

Just eight weeks out from the due date of her second child, Dame Valerie Adams is once again showing she's still a force to be reckoned with both in the shot put circle and the gym.

Dame Valerie Adams

Dame Valerie Adams Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The two-time Olympic shot put gold medallist has already indicated she wants to compete at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics - her fifth games appearance if she makes it.

Dame Valerie, 34, continues to train towards next year's games, while preparing for the birth of her second child, a boy, as well as care for her first child - one year old Kimoana.

In December, Adams said she felt she would still have enough time to prepare for Tokyo after the birth of her boy in April.

"I have fifteen months to train up for Tokyo which is great.

"When I had my first baby I had six months from woe to go to get to Commonwealth Games," Dame Valerie said.

"It's doable, we've got the blueprint ready to rock and roll so we'll see how it goes but I am looking forward to the challenge."

Last year Adams suffered a knee injury that ruled her out of the season-ending Diamond League meeting in Brussels, but she won silver at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games with a final throw of 18.70m.

Dame Valerie's last appearance at an Olympic Games was in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro where she threw a shot of 20.42m to claim a silver medal.

Dame Valerie Adams of New Zealand celebrates with her baby daughter Kimoana Josephine Adams Price

Dame Valerie Adams of New Zealand celebrates with her baby daughter Kimoana Josephine Adams Price Photo: Photosport

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