OLYMPIC shot-put gold medallist Valerie Adams admitted yesterday that she is pondering a return to Trinidad and Tobago for a training camp, ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The 31-year-old Adams, who is on a two-week long visit to the twin-island republic, under the invitation of friend and arch-rival Cleopatra Borel, made this disclosure during a talk shop at the VIP Lounge, Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
Yesterday’s event took place under the auspices of the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SPORTT ).
Adams, who claimed gold in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China and the 2012 Olympics in London, England, said, “it’s been amazing being here. I’m actually thinking very seriously of coming back here myself, for a pre-camp for the Rio Olympic Games.
“That is something that I’ve got to go back and talk to team. Hopefully I can make it work and come here and train,” continued the muscular- built Adams.
However, she admitted, “I feel Trinidad have to look over their own backyard. For me, it’s all about making sure that you’re in charge of your own people, and have the best resources and the best situations for your people to train, for your athletes to train.
“At the end of the day, it’s not the administrators nor the coaches who suffers, it’s the athletes, it’s you guys,” she told the aspiring national athletes and coaches in attendance.
“In New Zealand, (if I want something) I’m demanding it, because if they want me to win medals, those are the things that they’ve got to do.” Adams added, “I am thinking about coming back before I go to Rio. Hopefully I’m able to do that.” Adams, who is based in Switzerland, spoke at length about her experiences at the Olympic level (including her first foray in 2004 in Athens, Greece where she finished seventh) as well as her successes at the IAAF World Championships - originally silver in 2005 (Helsinki, Finland), gold in 2007 (Osaka, Japan), 2009 (Berlin, Germany), 2011 (Daegu, South Korea) and 2013 (Moscow, Russia).
However, when referring to her 2005 performance, as well as the 2012 Olympics, she highlighted her disappointment over being beaten by Nadzeya Ostapchuk who, in 2013, was stripped of both titles due to failed drug tests.
Other top national athletes who were in attendance at the SPORTT talk shop were 2013 400-metre hurdle champion Jehue Gordon and sailor Andrew Lewis.