Rio Olympics 2016: Support floods in for Valerie Adams

New Zealand's Valerie Adams wins the silver medal in the women's shot put. Photo / AP

Valerie Adams may have missed out on an historic third straight Olympic gold medal - but she's still a Kiwi champ.

Friends, family and supporters have flooded our Olympic hero with messages of support after she won silver in this afternoon's shot put final in Rio - the third Olympic medal of her career after gold in both Beijing and London.

Her brother, NBA star Steven Adams, lead the charge after a stunning final throw by American rival Michelle Carter agonisingly tore a third shot put gold away from his sister.

Very proud of you @ValerieAdams84 !!!

— Steven Adams (@RealStevenAdams) August 13, 2016

Former prime minister and candidate for the United Nations secretary general job, Helen Clark, also reached out on social media to put an arm around Adams - who ultimately came centimetres short of becoming the first New Zealander to win gold at three straight Games.

Congrats to #NZ shot put legend @ValerieAdams84 who won @Olympics silver medal today. Sporting legend. https://t.co/PyQ93tzmaP

— Helen Clark (@HelenClarkNZ) August 13, 2016

Unfortunately, the New Zealand Olympic Committee has again been left with egg on its face - prematurely celebrating Adams winning a medal before the shot put final had even started.

"Valerie Adams has just won (MEDAL) in the women's shot put! Check out the medal tally now!" the NZOC alerted people to.

The latest gaffe comes after an astonishing blunder in London four years ago, when New Zealand officials failed to register Adams for her defence of the shot put Olympic gold.

Luckily, an Australian official came to the rescue and helped persuade the IOC to let her in after the registration deadline.

Meanwhile, Adams' nearest and dearest gathered at an Auckland bistro to watch the drama unfold together. Present was one Adams' oldest friends from Mangere East Primary School, Erica Farrelly.