Athlete Spotlight: Valarie Allman

Sport: Track & Field Discus Throw

Hometown: Hershey, PA

Education: Stanford University

ASICS Athlete Since 2021

From competitive dancer to Olympic gold medalist, Valarie Allman has spent most of her life immersed in the world of athletics. Though she was raised in Hershey, PA, she first took up track & field at Silver Creek High School in Longmont, CO. As a discus thrower, she drew upon her dance background, which brought with it a unique understanding of balance, body movements, and rhythm. She went on to compete at Stanford University while earning her degree in product design.

At Stanford, Valarie was a 6-time All-American and became the school’s first NCAA finalist in the 20-lb weight throw. She won the gold medal during her Olympic debut at the 2020 Summer Games and holds the American discus throw record (71.46m) as of 2022. To date, she owns 27 of the 30 longest distances for American women in discus throw history. Her most recent accomplishments include bronze and silver medals at the 2022 and 2023 World Athletic Championships, respectively.

Since earning her gold medal, Valarie has been open about the complex feelings that come with such a momentous win. Her interview with Wondermind in 2023 explored some of those personal challenges. “[Winning] the Olympics is something I'm really proud of. But, truthfully, I wasn't quite ready to win in a lot of ways,” she said. “This last year, I definitely dealt with a lot of competition anxiety of feeling like I needed to live up to winning the Olympics” ... "which took away from the excitement of preparing for competition.”

As she approaches the 2024 games, Valarie is taking time to prioritize both her mental and physical wellness. “For an athlete to do well the mind and the body have to work together. I believe that my body will always follow my mind but if my headspace isn’t as positive then I can totally feel that in how I see competition and life.” Join us in cheering on Valarie this June, when she’ll compete for her chance to go to Paris!

In the meantime, learn more about our incredible team of ASICS Athletes.