Dame Valerie shares her thoughts on her own experiences over five Olympic campaigns and provides insights for next year’s Kiwi Olympic hopefuls.
HPSNZ
As an athlete, how does it feel at the ‘one year to go’ milestone?
Dame Valerie
It’s actually quite an exciting time for a lot of athletes as they continue to look at qualification standards and what they need to do to qualify. They’ll also be doing advance planning.
They’ll be reviewing the season they’ve just had and making sure they’ve got the right support team heading into next year’s Olympic Games.
While Olympics come around every four years, Paris 2024 is a three year cycle which is a very, very short time. Everyone will be very excited but also very anxious and nervous.
HPSNZ
How did this differ for you as a first time rookie Olympian in 2004 and as a seasoned campaigner in 2020?
Dame Valerie
As a rookie I guess you are, not careless, but you just roll with the punches and you don’t know what you’re in for.
You just trust the people around you and there was a lot of learning to be done. That obviously changed in 2008. I was four years older but even, so I still tended to roll with the punches. I enjoyed the atmosphere as much as possible and also the whole team environment, but I also realised pretty quickly that can be quite distracting and also energy sapping if you’re not careful.
Everyone has good intentions while they’re there to make you feel welcome but equally you are there to do a job.
In 2004 it is what it is. I finished ninth on the day, eighth a few weeks later. There was a lot I didn’t know then and I was young. I wouldn’t say dumb, just an inexperienced athlete at the time.
But in 2020 I was obviously a lot older and wiser. I guess a bit of been there, done that. So I was in a better position mentally to take on the competition even though I was ranked say down at fifth or sixth. Going into the 2020 Olympic Games I managed to pull through with a bronze medal after having two children.
HPSNZ
What should our Olympic hopefuls be focusing on and thinking about at the one year to go mark?
Dame Valerie
To be honest, probably the hopefuls, if they haven’t qualified already, will be looking and focusing on what they need to do and not worrying about anybody else.
They will be making sure they’ve got the right team around them, especially the team on the bus that are there for the right reasons and don’t have any other agendas.
They’ve also got to make some pretty tough decisions about work and education. And they also have some tough decisions to make regarding funding because at the end of the day, money talks and not all sports are funded. That is just the reality of participating in sport and being an elite athlete.
HPSNZ
What can athletes do to help themselves at this point in the Olympic cycle?
Dame Valerie
Again I say just roll with the punches really. Talk to their team again and again, but also just stay on course. It is quite a long time out to so keep making small goals along the way and tick them off because these are checkpoints they can check themselves against.
My message is be realistic about the situation. Don’t get lost in the theories and don’t be airy fairy about the situation. You know you are there to compete, you are there to perform and you are there to win. You did have to qualify but be realistic about your goals. Take responsibility and accountability for things that might come up but also be open and transparent with your team around you.
Injuries will come and slow you down. But you know where you want to be and where you are mentally, emotionally and physically. And that’s important. In some ways one year out is a long time but actually it is a very short period.
HPSNZ
What are the main pitfalls our Olympic hopefuls need to watch out for over the next 12 months?
Dame Valerie
Again it’s about being accountable for performances and being accountable for shortfalls that you may have but also be realistic about results because you could get caught up in the whole excitement and totally forget the reason you are there.
Planning in advance. Realising that some things are going to have to give. You’re going to have to sacrifice a few things to be able to go on this campaign, to become an athlete, to go to the Olympics. That’s a short term sacrifice for a long term gain because once you get to the Olympics you don’t want to have any regrets.
It’s pretty important to give your all if it is your dream to go to the Olympics. Do put all your eggs in that basket and give everything you’ve got into this journey.
HPSNZ
What is the one piece of advice you would give yourself as a 19 year old, first time Olympian?
Dame Valerie
Be comfortable in yourself because a lot of situations will come your way that are uncomfortable. You’ll be put in situations that you’ve never experienced before and that can be quite awkward and challenging.
People are going to speak to you in certain ways that can be taken the wrong way so open communication and speak up when you need to. Don’t let things fester as most issues can be resolved by just being transparent. . Remember you’ve earned your slot there.
Personally I’m a very realistic person so I will be there first to put my hand up and go “no I suck” or “I need to do more work” or “I need to check myself”. But just make sure you are giving it 100% because if you give a half arsed amount you’re get a half arsed result.
HPSNZ
Do you have a message for our Olympic hopefuls as they approach the qualification and selection phases of the campaign?
Dame Valerie
I would just wish them all the best of luck, make sure they have their work ons at the front of their mind but also understand why they are on this journey, understand the goals and understand the passage it will take to reach those goals.
The journey and the passage will be different for each person. Their checkpoints will be different. But each of them will have a team who’s going to be rooting for them and making sure they’re in the right space.
Smile and enjoy the journey. I’ve been to five Olympics and I can tell you each and every campaign was very very different. They all had their positive and some had hardships.
Enjoy the journey. You only live once and if you can make it to these Olympics and if you’re successful, congratulations. And if you don’t make the Olympics but you’ve given it your all, be proud of yourself.
