New Zealand shot put great Dame Valerie Adams announced her retirement from athletics this week, ending a glittering career in which she won almost every major title available to her.
As well as four world titles and two Olympic gold medals, Adams also won the Diamond Trophy six times between 2010 and 2016, making her one of the most decorated athletes in the series’ history.
In the women’s events, she is the joint record champion alongside Croatian discus legend Sandra Perkovic and Colombian triple jump superstar Caterine Ibargüen.
She, Perkovic and men’s pole vault star Renaud Lavillenie are also the only athletes ever to be crowned Diamond League champion for five years in a row.
Adams also still holds the women’s shot put Diamond League record, which she broke with an astonishing 21.03m effort at the Pietro Mennea Golden Gala in Rome in 2012.
Watch: Valerie Adams breaks the Diamond League record in 2012
She is responsible for every single one of the 11 furthest throws in Diamond League history in the women’s shot put, ranging from that Diamond League record in Rome to an impressive 20.20 effort in MOnaco in 2010.
Adams also holds the rare distinction of having won at least once at every single Diamond League meeting, and currently holds the meeting record at 11 of them.
As well as her six titles and her series record, Adams has chalked up a staggering 37 victories in the series over the years.
Watch: Best of Valerie Adams in the Wanda Diamond League
Her most recent came in Stockholm last season, where she marked 19.26m to claim her first Diamond League win in five years and put her in winning form ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.
In Japan, the New Zealand star claimed her fourth Olympic medal with a third-place finish behind the USA’s Raven Saunders and China’s two-time Diamond League champion Gong Lijiao.
The bronze medal was a fitting finish to a stellar career, in which Adams dominated and defined her discipline like few other Diamond League stars.
“After winning my bronze medal in Tokyo, I contemplated whether to embark on another campaign. I took some time to really process this thought and to see if it was something I actually wanted to do again. My heart, mind and body simply answered the question for me, so it is time for me to call it a day,” she said, announcing her retirement on Tuesday.