PARIS (NEXSTAR) — Following her latest Olympic victory in the discus, Valarie Allman spoke with Jack Doles about the excitement and challenges that marked her journey to Paris gold. The discussion covered everything from her cravings for Texas barbecue to the significance of her back-to-back Olympic titles.
Allman said she did not expect the viral reaction to her post-win BBQ craving. “I most certainly did not. It was so funny. I don’t even know where that came from. I now feel like a true Texan, having lived there for six years. And I will say, I really just was craving barbecue and I’m so excited to get back home and get me some dang brisket.”
When asked about maintaining a strict diet during the Olympics, she explained, “As an elite athlete, you do have to figure out how to navigate. And I think a lot of it is just trying to be disciplined. But, then also knowing that when you’re going to lean into the things you love, that you really do enjoy them. And I feel grateful that Terry Black’s (BBQ restaurant) exists on this planet because they have provided so much delight”
Allman also credits her initial interest in discus to pasta. “The track team had an annual spaghetti dinner, and anyone that was a thrower got to go. Something about that got me. So I’m definitely grateful for spaghetti.”
Even her Olympic team bio page credits Allman’s desire to get invited to the pasta feed as her introduction to the sport of discus.
Allman reflected on her recent gold medal win and being a back-to-back Olympic champion. “It’s really special. It’s honestly, it’s hard to put into words. I think I dreamed of earning that title in ’21, and it was so special to achieve that. And the journey to achieving a goal is never the same when you try to do it again. And this time it was filled with a lot of adversity and a lot of fight.”
“I definitely also had moments of a lot of doubt and a lot of hardship. And I feel so appreciative for the people that have been on this journey with me that were there through the hard parts, through the highs and to be able to celebrate with them last night, in person, was just absolutely incredible,” said Allman.
The atmosphere in Paris was another highlight for Allman compared to the empty stadiums in Tokyo. She noted, “It’s been spectacular. I’ve always wanted to be part of that true Olympic spirit that you see on TV, where the crowd is so into it and you’re competing with the world. Paris has celebrated sport and the world being together unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Last night is definitely one of those nights. I’m going to remember for my entire life.”
Looking forward to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, Allman hinted at her plans. “I think you will see me there. My competitor Melina [Robert-Michon], she’s 44, and this was her seventh Olympics. The way the crowd celebrated her last night I felt like, in some ways, she was the champion of our events. It definitely gave me some exciting feelings about wanting to really embrace L.A.”
