Dame Val moves from shot put circle to boardroom

Two time Olympic champion Dame Valerie Adams has moved from the shot put circle to the boardroom.

Dame Valerie is one of four new members appointed to the board of High Performance Sport New Zealand along with Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua, former Paralympian Duane Kale and former Black Sox player and coach Don Tricker.

HPSNZ Board Chair, Bill Moran, said all four appointees are internationallyrenowned and bring deep expertise in the areas of player and coach development, talent development, paralympic pathways, wellbeing, as well as long-term experience in the high performance system.

Dame Valerie Adams
Photo: PhotoSport / Steve McArthur

Having recently retired from competitive sport after winning her fourth Olympic medal in Tokyo, Dame Valerie Adams said she’s looking foward to playing a part in helping “shape the best possible environment for our athletes..”

“I hope I can make a difference by bringing new perspective and sharing personal experience of the pressures that can be experienced in the high performance environment,as we continue to build a better future for all those involved whether it be our athletes, coaches or staff.”

Coach of the World Champion Silver Ferns, Dame Noeline Taurua, said being appointed to the HPSNZ board was “a different pathway.”

“I have experienced sporting life from grass roots through to high performance…. it is crucial that the high performance system is integratedand streamlined and that it continues to grow, prepare and support world class people to compete on the world stage.”

Dame Noeline Taurua and Ameliranne Ekenasio with the Constellation Cup.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT

-RNZ