Zsuzsanna Olgyay-Szabo
Head Coach, Founder & Olympian
Zsuzsa was introduced into athletics at the age of 11 in her country of origin, Hungary, competing in the combined events. 10 years later, when women's pole vault was becoming more popular, she decided to give it a try. Since that moment, her career as a pole vaulter became more and more successful. Competing at an international level for 10 years, she achieved a personal best of 4.51m and broke the European Indoor Pole Vault Record, won the bronze medal at the World Indoor Championships in Japan 1999, placed 4th in the IAAF World Championships in Seville and participated in the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000.
Zsuzsa holds a Masters of Education in Physical Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Coaching specializing in track and field. She is a Level 4 accredited Athletics Australia Coach. She was the Event Coach of Athletics Australia and NSW Institute of Sports for the Pole Vault and Multi Events for over 5 years, as well as the Target Talent Program Coach of pole vault (currently) in NSW. Zsuzsa was team coach in World University Games for pole vault, decathlon and high jump in 2015.
Her experience as a coach began in 2004. She has worked as part of the WA Institute of Sports along with Alex Parnov (coach of prestigious pole vaulters such as Steve Hooker or Tatiana Grigorieva), She has also coached Korean National Team Pole Vaulters.
Zsuzsa moved to Australia in 2007 and since then her athletes have won twice the Australian National Championship, 31 Australian Junior National Championship titles, 26 NSW Open Championship titles by side of numerous medals in all level, set NSW open and junior records, as well as having represented Australia in international competitions such as Commonwealth Games, World Junior Championships winning gold and silver medals in World University Games.
Zsuzsa was introduced into athletics at the age of 11 in her country of origin, Hungary, competing in the combined events. 10 years later, when women's pole vault was becoming more popular, she decided to give it a try. Since that moment, her career as a pole vaulter became more and more successful. Competing at an international level for 10 years, she achieved a personal best of 4.51m and broke the European Indoor Pole Vault Record, won the bronze medal at the World Indoor Championships in Japan 1999, placed 4th in the IAAF World Championships in Seville and participated in the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000.
Zsuzsa holds a Masters of Education in Physical Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Coaching specializing in track and field. She is a Level 4 accredited Athletics Australia Coach. She was the Event Coach of Athletics Australia and NSW Institute of Sports for the Pole Vault and Multi Events for over 5 years, as well as the Target Talent Program Coach of pole vault (currently) in NSW. Zsuzsa was team coach in World University Games for pole vault, decathlon and high jump in 2015.
Her experience as a coach began in 2004. She has worked as part of the WA Institute of Sports along with Alex Parnov (coach of prestigious pole vaulters such as Steve Hooker or Tatiana Grigorieva), She has also coached Korean National Team Pole Vaulters.
Zsuzsa moved to Australia in 2007 and since then her athletes have won twice the Australian National Championship, 31 Australian Junior National Championship titles, 26 NSW Open Championship titles by side of numerous medals in all level, set NSW open and junior records, as well as having represented Australia in international competitions such as Commonwealth Games, World Junior Championships winning gold and silver medals in World University Games.
Jack Hicking
Jack has been involved in competitive sport since he was 5 years old and has long been passionate about the opportunity for personal growth it provides. He began his pole vault journey in 2007 after only a year or so of recreational athletics. Every year thereafter, he has competed at State and National level, accruing numerous podium finishes and records. He was also selected to represent Australia at the 2014 World Junior Track and Field Championships, where he placed 7th with a jump of 5.40m. That mark broke his own NSW Under 20 and Open records. Along his journey, he has been fortunate enough to work with world class coaches including Alex Parnov, Alan Launder, Mark Stewart, Ray Boyd and Dan Pfaff, as well as his long-standing personal coach Zsuzsanna Olgyay-Szabo.
Recently, he has transferred his extensive competition experience in athletics into coaching and has gained vital knowledge under the guidance of Zsuzsa. He looks forward to developing his coaching capacity and passing on his knowledge of the sport to the next generation of athletes.
Education and Qualifications:
- Currently studying a Bachelor of Physiotherapy
- Level 1 Athletics Australia Community Athletics Coach
- Sports Medicine Australia Level 1 Sports Trainer
- First Aid and CPR qualifications
Recently, he has transferred his extensive competition experience in athletics into coaching and has gained vital knowledge under the guidance of Zsuzsa. He looks forward to developing his coaching capacity and passing on his knowledge of the sport to the next generation of athletes.
Education and Qualifications:
- Currently studying a Bachelor of Physiotherapy
- Level 1 Athletics Australia Community Athletics Coach
- Sports Medicine Australia Level 1 Sports Trainer
- First Aid and CPR qualifications
