Arguably New Zealand’s most successful ever female athlete Dame Valerie Adams has accepted the offer to become the patron of Counties Manukau Sport.

The two-time Olympic shot-put champion spent a large part of her formative years in the heart of Counties Manukau and is proud of her South Auckland roots.

“Counties Manukau Sport was created in 1991 and has only ever had one patron in Yvette, New Zealand’s first female Olympic gold medal winner, so finding someone to replace her, not only in athletic achievement, but someone who represents the values and standards of Counties Manukau Sport was critical,” said Brian Nowell, Chair of the Counties Manukau Sport Board.

“She epitomises everything we stand for and we couldn’t think of a better person to represent our organisation.”

Dame Valerie takes over from the late great Yvette Williams (Corlett), who passed away earlier this year.

“I’m incredibly proud to be announced as the patron for Counties Manukau Sport and follow in the footsteps of Yvette Williams (Corlett).  It’s a great opportunity to give back to the organisation and the work they do in our community to inspire people in our region through sport and growing participation”.

Adams burst onto the scene in the early 2000s winning world championships at both youth and junior levels before claiming a silver medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and then the first of three Commonwealth Games gold medals in Melbourne four years later.

She would win the first of four-straight world championship gold medals in 2007 and then Olympic gold medal at both the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics.

Made a Dame Companion in the New Year Honours of 2017 she would become a mother later in the year and put her career on hold. Adams returned to competition in 2018 and claimed a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

She was named the Halberg Award supreme winner on three successive occasions from 2007-2009 while winning Sports Woman of the Year for seven successive years from 2006.

She has also won the Counties Manukau Sporting Excellence Supreme Award for 12 of the past 17 years.

Dame Valerie Adams will be officially welcomed into the role in early 2020.

Article added: Monday 02 December 2019