Isn't Valerie beautiful. She grew up with her Mum, who sadly died of cancer when Valerie was just 15. Valerie ended up living in the home of her (still) shotput coach. Here is some stuff from a recent interview that I've taken from a fairfax media site (stuff.co.nz)
Tuesday, 05 August 2008
WELL LOVED: New Zealand gold medal hope Valerie Vili is embracing the support of fellow Kiwis ahead of the Beijing Olympics.
Kiwi Olympic medal hopeful Valerie Vili has departed for China with a distinct plan on how to handle expectations.
"I keep getting asked ‘how are you dealing with the pressure?' It's a good question and the only real answer is that I'm dealing with it the way I always deal with it. I acknowledge it. And I embrace it," she explained.
"Expectation is an amazing thing. I know there is a lot of expectation out there, about how I will perform in Beijing.
"I know there are a lot of hopes and goals that people want me to achieve and that sort of support is incredible.
"And I know the pressure is there, but no one has greater expectations than me. No one is putting more pressure on me ... than me."
Vili said the most important thing to her was to achieve the goals that she and coach Kirsten Hellier had set.
"New Zealand also has to be realistic about things as well," she cautioned. "I know that might be difficult, because my career has been going pretty well in the last year or so.
"But the Olympic Games is different. It has its own pressures.
"I have goals for myself, that I keep for myself. My coach and I have spoken to each other about what we want to do and very soon we will have the opportunity.
"I have waited four years for this chance and I can't tell you how much of an honour it is for me to represent New Zealand in Beijing. To wear the silver fern; to have the whole experience and to know that there are four million people behind me. Four million strong people."
Vili said her Olympic dream had become increasingly vivid since Athens.
"I can still remember when I first started thinking I'd like to go to an Olympics. I was 15 years old, and I was sitting on the couch next to my mum at the hospice and we were watching the Opening Ceremony for the 2000 Sydney Games.
"I remember thinking "one day I want to be a part of that". The next morning mum passed away. That was the start of this.
"As a young kid I had never watched the Olympic Games as such, or followed it, but at that stage in my life, at that moment it hit me. It was pretty amazing. I thought: "I want to be there".
"In just a few days, I will be. Again."
This is Vili's second Olympics after she finished eighth in Athens.
"Now I have the opportunity to do better.
"I can't wait."
WELL LOVED: New Zealand gold medal hope Valerie Vili is embracing the support of fellow Kiwis ahead of the Beijing Olympics.
Kiwi Olympic medal hopeful Valerie Vili has departed for China with a distinct plan on how to handle expectations.
"I keep getting asked ‘how are you dealing with the pressure?' It's a good question and the only real answer is that I'm dealing with it the way I always deal with it. I acknowledge it. And I embrace it," she explained.
"Expectation is an amazing thing. I know there is a lot of expectation out there, about how I will perform in Beijing.
"I know there are a lot of hopes and goals that people want me to achieve and that sort of support is incredible.
"And I know the pressure is there, but no one has greater expectations than me. No one is putting more pressure on me ... than me."
Vili said the most important thing to her was to achieve the goals that she and coach Kirsten Hellier had set.
"New Zealand also has to be realistic about things as well," she cautioned. "I know that might be difficult, because my career has been going pretty well in the last year or so.
"But the Olympic Games is different. It has its own pressures.
"I have goals for myself, that I keep for myself. My coach and I have spoken to each other about what we want to do and very soon we will have the opportunity.
"I have waited four years for this chance and I can't tell you how much of an honour it is for me to represent New Zealand in Beijing. To wear the silver fern; to have the whole experience and to know that there are four million people behind me. Four million strong people."
Vili said her Olympic dream had become increasingly vivid since Athens.
"I can still remember when I first started thinking I'd like to go to an Olympics. I was 15 years old, and I was sitting on the couch next to my mum at the hospice and we were watching the Opening Ceremony for the 2000 Sydney Games.
"I remember thinking "one day I want to be a part of that". The next morning mum passed away. That was the start of this.
"As a young kid I had never watched the Olympic Games as such, or followed it, but at that stage in my life, at that moment it hit me. It was pretty amazing. I thought: "I want to be there".
"In just a few days, I will be. Again."
This is Vili's second Olympics after she finished eighth in Athens.
"Now I have the opportunity to do better.
"I can't wait."
Mickle is just a wee bit biased towards Valerie....
Huggles from me and loud snores from Zebedee
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