Lauren Bruce had two choices when the force of nature that is Dame Valerie Adams thundered into her world late last year. She could be intimidated or she could be inspired.
She could wallow in the shadow of a sporting giant, or she could stride purposefully into her own light.
The events of the last few days stateside suggest the latter has been the case, and the words of athlete and coach back this up.
This impressive 23-year-old, who will make her first appearance in a New Zealand senior team at the Tokyo Olympics (July 23-August 8), appears to be very much casting her own journey in the company of some impressive training partners.
In case you need catching up, here’s the backstory: Bruce, a hammer thrower, has followed the same pathway as fellow Ian Baird-coached Timaru athlete, and former shot put world champion, Tom Walsh, and made her way into Dale Stevenson’s crack Christchurch throwing squad.
They were joined late last year by double Olympic gold medallist and four-time world champion Adams to complete a holy trinity of globally elite performers.
For Walsh little changed. A strong and well-established personality and thrower, the addition of Adams to his wider training sphere created barely a ripple.
If anything he was just grateful to have a veteran of her standing around to swap war stories over coffees.
