Two-time Olympic gold medalist in discus throw, Valarie Allman, has lauded Neeraj Chopra’s silver medal win in the javelin throw at the Paris Olympics. She believes that despite the disappointment of missing out on gold, Chopra’s achievement is as valuable as a gold medal, considering the immense pressure he faced after his triumphant performance at the Tokyo Games.
Allman, who serves as the International event ambassador for the upcoming Delhi Half Marathon, understands the challenges of managing success as an athlete, especially after achieving global stardom. “It’s an incredibly difficult task (to manage success). And I think sometimes it’s harder to manage success than it is failure,” she said, emphasizing the mental and emotional toll that comes with winning. “When you become an Olympic champion, it changes the chemistry of your mind and how you carry yourself.”
She further elaborated on the pressures athletes face, stating, “You start to hold yourself to a higher standard and it’s easy to lose that magic of what got you there. You feel the pressure of needing to win. You feel the excitement of your country. There’s new endorsement opportunities and, I think, if you’re giving your best, you put yourself in that realm of being able to win.”
Despite the pressures, Allman acknowledges that even the best athletes can face setbacks on the day of competition. “There’s so many factors that have to come together on the day when centimetres can separate a performance,” she said, highlighting the unpredictable nature of athletics. “And, what Neeraj did to win the Olympics and win World Championships, he’s created an amazing string of global championships. For him to earn silver, the level of performance he’s at is worthy of a gold medal.”
Allman further praised Chopra’s ambition and drive, saying, “I think it’s having that ambition, that drive that he captures so clearly is what gives you that opportunity to be able to win gold.”
The American athlete, who is yet to win a World Championship gold medal, also weighed in on World Athletics’ initiative to provide significant prize money to Olympic medalists, a move that has been met with mixed reactions from other global sports federations. Allman believes the initiative is a step in the right direction, especially considering the lack of financial support for athletes in some countries. “I think the initiative by World Athletics is extremely impactful. I think, the Olympics has the ability to elevate people’s careers exponentially, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to also be financial,” she said.
“Especially in the United States, there’s not really any funding for becoming an Olympic champion. So, to have a global sports organisation that recognises the value of winning feels really good. I hope they continue to have that trickle down to multiple places. “I think only celebrating the winner is a positive step, but not nearly enough to be able to continue to grow the sport for four years at a time,” she concluded.
Allman also addressed the recent social media criticism faced by Indian shooter Manu Bhaker after she walked the ramp at a fashion show following her double bronze medal win at the Paris Olympics. Allman believes that athletes have the right to choose how they want to celebrate their achievements. “I think it’s up to the champion to decide how they want to handle it. And there’s no denying it (Olympic medals) is an accolade worth celebrating. And to be proud and confident I think is something that you earn,” she said.
Allman concluded by emphasizing that while Olympic medals are a testament to hard work and dedication, the journey itself is equally important. “It’s that internal challenge that you always have to face to be able to be vulnerable. When you go onto that global stage, it’s scary. And you have to find it deep within yourself to know that you’re prepared and ready and willing to go for it.”