Vili was born in Rotorua, New Zealand to a Tongan mother and Scottish father.

Valerie Vili hails from New Zealand, but the Olympic shot put champion threatens to switch nationality to Great Britain if her funding situation doesn’t improves.

Olympic champion, world champion and Commonwealth record-holder has every right to do so as her father is British.

The 24 year old is currently considering taking matters into her own hands if her funding is cut short.

She added, “More could be done for elite athletes in New Zealand. We won three golds in 2008, but the funding still isn’t that flash. If I lived elsewhere and competed for another country things might be different, but I love the country and love competing for New Zealand. However, I have to look to the future and live my own life. My father’s English, so I have a connection with another country and have options. I have had offers, but have turned them down.”