Valerie Adams announces she is retiring from shot put

Two-time Olympic champion Dame Valerie Adams has decided to call time on her shot put career.

The 37-year-old - who claimed back-to-back gold medals at Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012, and also won silver at the 2016 Rio Games and bronze in Tokyo last year, where she made history by becoming the first woman to win medals at four Olympics in a single field event - announced her retirement on social media.

"Today I share with you all that I am officially hanging up these size 14 throwing shoes," Adams said.

"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 that question for me. So, it is time to call it a day."

Adams said she was humbled to represent New Zealand on the world stage.

"Representing Aotearoa for the last 22 years has given me so much joy. As my life’s work, I am humbled to show that little New Zealand has what it takes to be the best in the world."

She continued: "To all of those that dare lift the shot, I'm looking at you girl, do so with my blessing as it has been to me. I give also to you, strength and courage. There is the dream good and true. Take it."

Adams said she will continue to coach her sister, Paralympic shot put champion Lisa Adams and looks forward to spending more time with her family.

Aside from her Olympic success, she is also a four-time world champion, four-time indoor world champion and three-time Commonwealth Games champion.

She was named the supreme award winner at the Halberg Awards for three consecutive years from 2007 and won the Sportswoman of the Year accolade seven times.

At her fifth Olympics in Tokyo last year, Adams carried the flag for New Zealand at the closing ceremony, a moment she said meant a lot to her and her family.

Adams was named a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit at the 2017 New Years Honours.