Valerie Young

Valerie Young

Personal information
Born	(1937-08-10) 10 August 1937 (age 79) Ashburton, New Zealand
Sport
Country	New Zealand
Sport	Track and field
Achievements and titles
National finals	Discus champion (1957, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982) Shot put champion (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1979, 1980, 1981) Pentathlon champion (1958, 1963)
Medal record Women's Athletics Representing  New Zealand Commonwealth Games 1958 Cardiff Shot put 1962 Perth Shot put 1962 Perth Discus 1966 Kingston Shot put 1966 Kingston Discus 1974 Christchurch Shot put 1958 Cardiff Discus

Valerie Isobel Margaret Young OBE (née Sloper, born 10 August 1937) is a former athlete from New Zealand, who won seven medals in the shot put and discus events at the Commonwealth Games.

She competed at the 1958, 1962, 1966, and 1974 Commonwealth Games, where she won her medals. She retired after the 1966 games to have a family, but when the 1974 games were allocated to Christchurch, went back into training. She also competed in the 1956, 1960, and 1964 Olympic Games, and went to the 1976 and 1984 games as an official (chaperone).

She has won the most gold medals (5) of any New Zealand competitor at the Commonwealth Games.

At a national level, Young has won more New Zealand titles, 37, than any other athlete, including 18 in the discus and 17 in the shot put. She also won the women's pentathlon title twice, in 1958 and 1963.

In the 1987 New Year Honours, Young was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to athletics.

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