![]() This wasn't the first time Allman used those affirmations. "It was really in that moment where I was like, 'Oh my gosh, all of our hard work just materialized into being an Olympic champion.'" "He was watching the last set of throws, and he looked at me and kind of nodded, and it was that final acknowledgement that no one was going to pass and that we'd won," she recalled. Instead, she simply focused on her coach, Zebulon Sion. It marked the United States' first track and field victory of the Games, and Allman, 26, told POPSUGAR that the moment she realized she'd won was "the most validating, emotional happiness."Īllman, who said she's also fortunate enough to be an ASICS athlete, led the competition after that opening throw - her other attempts weren't as far, but it didn't matter - and she noted that she didn't watch fellow competitors take their turns following an anxiety-provoking rain delay. I will win." These are the three affirmations Valarie Allman stepped into the throwing circle with to prepare for her lead-off attempt, a throw of 68.98 meters that ultimately secured an Olympic discus gold in Tokyo. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP) (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images) after and see them and hopefully celebrate,” Allman said.USA's Valarie Allman reacts during the women's discus throw final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on August 2, 2021. "I mean, they’ve been a major part of this whole journey that they’ll absolutely be in my heart, and I can’t wait to get back to the U.S. And I think if she does that, we'll be really happy.”Įven though her family won't be at the games physically, Allman says she hopes to make them and her country proud. At the end of the day, it's about executing. "But at the end of the day, it's not about winning," Coach Sion said. "Which we have done, we've lost them in the weeds.”Ĭoach Sion says this place has some American-record magic. “We are hopeful that they mow the lawn and the grass is somewhat maintained, and we don't lose discs," Coach Sion said. “It's so simple, you know, it's really just a concrete pad and a big open field that oftentimes other people have their dogs, and they're playing fetch,” Allman said.Ĭoach Sion laughs when talking about the field they've practiced on during the pandemic. Allman says it's humbling to know you don't need a state-of-the-art facility to really excel at something. The pandemic aside, years of hard work led to this point. "You know, if you get a positive test, you're out from competing.” “Wearing a mask, trying to be safe, and take precautions is vital at this point," Allman said. The way we approach the training here all year is it doesn't change.”Īllman says she’s ready for the mental game even as the risk of contracting COVID hovers in the back of her mind. “She needs to mentally think about everything the right way, you know, not make it too grand in her brain," Coach Sion said. Just another competition is exactly the mindset Coach Sion says he wants Allman to have. It's just making it feel like another competition.” But in a lot of ways, I think it's simplified in my brain. And now to know that it's just going to be thousands of empty seats is so strange. ![]() "I mean, when I've dreamed about this moment, I've hoped that my family would be there. ![]() “It is going to be so funky to have an empty stadium," Allman said. We've been to world championships before two different times and competed against these very top people, but obviously, the Olympics has a different feel to it." “ super excited about it, yeah," Coach Sion said. She broke more discus records when qualifying for the Olympics. He's been coaching Allman for five years.Ĭoach Sion says Allman stands out because of her dedication and discipline. She says none of it would have happened without her coach, Zebulon Sion. “Having to be adaptable and adjust to so many unpredictable things, I think that that organically has been great training to prepare for the Olympics,” Allman said. A year of uncertainty transformed into a productive year which helped her reach the pinnacle of her athletic career. She says beating the record helped build her confidence. "I mean, the pandemic provided a lot of hardship, but I think it also provided a lot of growth for me.” “2020 ended up being a really impactful year," Allman said. Intense strength training, balanced nutrition, and maturity brought her to this moment. This year she's competing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. ![]() When I walk into the ring, I'm always trying to think about one or two really simple thoughts.” "You feel like all of your nerves are kind of tingling. “In big meets, your body's overflowing with adrenaline," Allman said. The last time we talked with discus thrower Valarie Allman, she broke the Women’s Discus American Record.
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