Women’s shot putter Valerie Adams has been given the opportunity to become the first woman to win the event at three successive Olympics, as she was named in New Zealand’s initial athletics squad for this year’s Rio de Janeiro Games.
The 31- year- old had a injury in 2015 season, which ended up into a surgery, she won gold in Beijing and London and should challenge for the title again in Rio, as she hopes to move clear of Tamara Press of the former Soviet Union as the only women to have won the title twice.
Last month Adam took bronze at the world indoor championship in Portland, and was awarded the gold in London after Belarus’ Nadzeya Ostapchuk tested positive for performance enhancing drugs.
Tom Walsh, who clinch to gold in Oregon and has three of the five leading throws outdoors this year will also compete in Olympics.
The 24-year-old Walsh, who finished fourth at last year’s world championships in Beijing, will be joined in the event by two-time world junior champion Jacko Gill, who was ninth in Portland.
A further selection announcement is to be made in July.
Initial squad: Valerie Adams (shot put), Stuart Farquhar (javelin), Jacko Gill (shot put), Nikki Hamblin (1,500m), Eliza McCartney (pole vault), Angie Petty (800m), Quentin Rew (50km walk), Zane Robertson (10,000m), Tom Walsh (shot put), Nick Willis (1,500m)
