She Melts My Heart! Dame Valerie's Chirstmas Miracle

It’s been an Olympic trial to meet her wee girl!

- Sebastian Van Der Zwan

She’s known for her tough demeanour and no-nonsense attitude, but when Dame Valerie Adams talks about celebrating her first festive season with her daughter Kimoana Josephine, she can’t help but go all gooey.

“Her aunty Josephine, who inspired her middle name, has already bought her the most gorgeous outfit and I can’t wait to put it on her,” the two-time Olympic gold medallist gushes excitedly. “It’s a little pink tutu with a T-shirt that says ‘My first Christmas’ and we’ve got a matching headband. I used to totally object to the colour pink, but now I’m OK with a little bit. I’ve changed, I know!”

Indeed, her eyes twinkling like fairy lights, it’s a whole new Valerie we meet at our exclusive shoot with the shot-put champion, her proud husband Gabriel Price and their small but smiley six week-old Kimoana, and it’s all thanks to becoming a mother.

“I’m quite a strong, staunch person – nothing fazes me – but now I cry quite a lot,” Valerie confesses to Woman’s Day. “The other day, we had her christening and she was Miss Pass-the-Parcel because everyone wanted a hold, but it meant her sleep was broken and on the way home, she was crying like she was hurt. I was bawling too, like, ‘My baby is in pain!’ The staunch Valerie is still there somewhere, but I’ve definitely softened up.”

Speaking quietly as she breastfeeds her daughter, she continues, “Nothing prepares you to become a parent. I’ve never felt this kind of love for any human being in my life. Once upon a time, our lives revolved around my travels and competitions, and Gabe’s career too, but now it’s all about baby’s sleep schedule. Nothing else in this world matters.”