March 1 (Reuters) – Double Olympic shot put champion Valerie Adams said on Tuesday she is retiring from the sport, having represented New Zealand at five Games and winning four medals.
At last year’s Tokyo Games, Adams became the first woman to win medals at four Olympics in a single field event by adding a bronze to her two golds and one silver.
“Today I’m here to share with you all that I’m officially hanging up these size 14 throwing shoes,” Adams told reporters.
“My heart, mind and body simply answered the question for me so it’s time to call it a day.”
The 37-year-old, who will continue to coach her sister Lisa in her journey to the next Paralympics, said she was delighted to have represented New Zealand for the last 22 years.
Adams finished seventh at Athens in 2004 and won gold at Beijing and London before being pipped in Rio by American Michelle Carter’s final throw.
She took time off after Rio to have her first child and made her international return at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, where she clinched silver.
