Valerie Kasanita Adams (formerly known as Valerie Vili), ONZM (born 6 October 1984) is a shot putter from New Zealand. She is the reigning women's Olympic champion and three-time World champion, two-time Commonwealth and World Indoor champion. She currently holds the New Zealand, Oceanian, Commonwealth and equal World Championship records with a personal best throw of 21.24 metres.

At the Beijing Olympics she won the gold with a throw of 20.56 m, a personal best, beating Belarussian thrower Natallia Mikhnevich. It is the first Olympic gold medal in track and field for New Zealand since John Walker won the 1,500 meter race in 1976.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valerie_Adams