Athletics: Val Adams withdraws from world champs

Valerie Adams has pulled out of her attempt to win a fifth straight world championship title in Beijing later this month. Photo / Kenny Rodger.

Val Adams has pulled out of the track and field world championships in Beijing this month.

The shot putter's rehabilitation from injury has not gone well enough for her to consider an attempt at a fifth consecutive title on August 22.

The 30-year-old has not thrown beyond 18.79m in Diamond League competition this season, a distance which has left her trailing the leading exponents - Germany's Christina Schwanitz, China's Lijiao Gong and the United States' Michelle Carter - who have surpassed 20m.

"I have thought about this long and hard and know it's the right thing to do for all those that know me, know how competitive I am, and how much I love competing in the black singlet," Adams said.

"Deep down this is not easy but I'm a realist and know I'm not ready just yet and I still have stuff to work on. It's been a challenge since my surgery on my elbow, especially as it is taking more time than I thought it would... But that's life and I must roll with the punches and deal to this sucker.

"My right knee also needs some tender loving physical care and that will be attended to as soon as I hit New Zealand soil."

Adams is likely to return home from her Switzerland base within a fortnight.

She is understood to have thrown more than 19m regularly in practice, but could not translate that form to competition.

Attempting to become New Zealand's first Olympian to win a gold medal at three consecutive Games in Rio next year is now her wider goal.

Among Kiwis, only Adams, runner Peter Snell, rowers Dick Joyce, Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell, coxswain Simon Dickie, kayakers Ian Ferguson and Paul MacDonald and equestrian rider Mark Todd have won golds at consecutive Olympics.

Adams spent the season rebuilding after undergoing surgery to her right elbow and left shoulder last year.

She returned with a throw of 18.79m to finish fifth at the Diamond League in Paris on July 4, a performance which ended her run of 56 consecutive victories from August 2010.
Adams has since thrown 18.73m (first in a weakened Lucerne field), 18.59m (second in London) and 18.69m (fourth in Stockholm).

"This has been a tough come back but I'm glad I made an attempt this season as it has boosted my motivation more for the Olympics.

"No one said it would be easy but I'm a willing participant and will continue to fight and work towards defending my title in Rio."

German Christina Schwanitz is the new alpha female in the discipline. She set a personal best of 20.77m in May.

Adams has not thrown beyond that mark since beating Schwanitz with a throw of 20.88m at the 2013 world championships. Schwanitz has now thrown more than 20m in her last six competitions.

Last year, Adams' dominance saw her become the first female thrower to be awarded the IAAF world governing body's athlete of the year. She set eight of the 10 best throws in 2013 and 2014.