Gov. Tom Wolf offered his congratulations on social media to Pennsylvania native Valarie Allman for winning gold in discus at the Tokyo Olympics. | stock photo
Gov. Tom Wolf offered his congratulations on social media to Pennsylvania native Valarie Allman for winning gold in discus at the Tokyo Olympics. | stock photo
A Hershey, Pennsylvania, native won gold this week in the discus event for Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics.
Valarie Allman earned the gold medal in discus because no one, after about 50 throws from her competitors, was able to beat the mark of her first throw, 68.98 meters (226 feet, 3 inches), according to AP News.
"It is an honor. I couldn't be any happier or more proud," Allman said, according to Yahoo! Sports. "I’m still waiting for my feet to touch the ground."
Figuring out her place on the world stage would have not been possible without the support of her family and her coach, she added.
Gov. Tom Wolf (D) took to social media to congratulate Allman on her athletic feat. “Big congrats to Pennsylvania native Valarie Allman, who brought home the gold in discus! #Tokyo2020 #PAProud” Wolf Tweeted Aug. 3.
Rounding out the event winners were Germany with the silver medal and Cuba with the bronze.
For Allman, achieving gold at the Olympics is far cry from beginning track and field in high school at the urging of her friends who said there was a free pasta dinner in it for her if she gave the sport of discus a try.
After high school, Allman became a multiple All-American at Stanford University and currently trains out of Austin, Texas.
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