Place of residence: Auckland, New Zealand
Coach: Kirsten Hellier (until 2010 March)
She is the daughter of a Tongan mother and an English father.
Adams's early potential was spotted by a PE teacher at her high school in Mangere, Auckland, when she was just a shy, sporty 13-year-old - the tallest in her class, but with good forearms. She went on to smash records at the regional junior athletics day that year.
In 1998 Adams first met former javelin thrower Kirsten Hellier (a former international javelin thrower) who would become her long-standing coach until they parted ways in March 2010. (“It was like a divorce. Kirsten has always been more than a coach to me. She has been an amazing mentor and friend. That part of our relationship will not change.")
She had her first taste of gold at a major international event when she won the World Youth Championships in Debrecen, Hungary in 2001. She was first again at the World Junior Championships in Kingston, Jamaica the following year and won silver at the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games.
The Olympic and double World outdoor champion Adams had a winning streak of 29 consecutive finals (starting on 19 December in Auckland) which ended on 14 March in Doha.
Adams often trains using a men’s implement, with the idea being "if you can move with the heavy weight, it’ll be easier with the lighter one".
In March 2009 she received the Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit. “The gold medal was my hard work and sweat and pain where as this is a way, as the Governor-General put it, as the country saying thank you for your service to the country,” she said.