Dame Valerie Adams has committed to a Tokyo Olympics campaign

If the three-time shot put medallist is selected in 2020, she will join
Barbara Kendall as the only New Zealand women to feature at five Games.

The 33-year-old's path to further glory shapes as a challenge.

If her European and Commonwealth Games competitions were a gauge this season,
the international field is strengthening.

A knee niggle has ruled her out of the remainder of the northern hemisphere
season, and as Mum to 10-month-old Kimoana, much of her time is devoted to
motherhood rather than the throwing circle these days.

No-one in Team Adams is underestimating the scale of the task ahead.