Reaching for the Stars: The Belief Journey of Dame Valerie Adams

Dame Valerie Adams, one of New Zealand’s most celebrated athletes, was not always destined for greatness. If she had rated her early life, it might have been a 5 out of 10 — potential present, but hidden behind hardship. Born to a large family in Auckland, she faced overwhelming challenges: the loss of her mother when she was just 15, limited resources, and a future that looked uncertain. Valerie could have accepted a life that stayed safely in the middle — average, predictable, unremarkable.

But the number 10 beckons the brave.

It speaks of completion, mastery, stepping into fullness. The number 10 whispers: You were made to finish the race you began.

Valerie’s transformation started with a shift in belief. When a school coach noticed her raw power and encouraged her to try shot put, she listened. Not because she already believed she could be the best — but because she decided to believe that she could become more than what life had handed her.

Every throw was a declaration: My story is rising.

She trained relentlessly — early mornings, late nights, pushing her strength beyond its limits. At first, her progress was slow. A 5 turned into a 6. A 6 into a 7. But belief compounds. It multiplies momentum.

Our ten fingers help us grasp the world around us. Valerie used hers to grip the heavy sphere that would become the symbol of her breakthrough. Each spin, each release carried her closer to the life she envisioned — a life that felt like a 10.

As she stepped onto the world stage, something extraordinary happened. She didn’t just compete — she dominated. Multiple world championships. Paralympic medals as a coach and mentor. Gold at the Olympic Games. Recognition as one of the greatest female shot putters in history.

Yet the most powerful part of her story is what happened behind the medals.

Valerie faced surgeries, personal losses, and moments where doubt could have crushed her momentum. But when the number 10 becomes your identity — when you commit to completing what you started — disappointment doesn’t define you; it refines you.

Like the noble gases with their “magic number” of 10 electrons forming perfect stability, Valerie reached a state of balance and strength — not because her life was easy, but because she believed it could be complete.

She became a champion not only in sport, but in spirit.

Today, Dame Valerie Adams stands as living proof that a mid-range life score is not a verdict — it is a starting point. A place where belief waits to be awakened.

A 5 out of 10 life is not the end of the story.

It is the moment before the rise.

Her journey invites you to ask:
What number are you settling for — and what number are you meant for?

Valerie believed she was made for more.

And when belief rises, life follows.

Your turn toward 10 begins the moment you say:
I will not stay where I started.