Zsuzsanna Olgyay-Szabo OLY
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 Degree 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 and multi events in NSW. Zsuzsa was team coach at the World University Games for pole vault, decathlon and high jump events in 2015, team coach at Pacific Games in 2023 for triple jump and heptathlon, at Pacific mini Games in 2017 for pole vault events.
Her experience as a coach began in 2004. Coached junior athletes to win Hungarian Championships in pole vault and multi events. She has also coached Korean National Team Pole Vaulters.
Zsuzsa moved to Australia in 2007. Her expertise got recognized soon after. She earned her citizenship as a distinguished talent, and her expertise was very needed in NSW to develop pole vault event. Thankfully to her hard work the event excelled quickly. Since then, her athletes have won multiply Australian Open National Championship, over 30 Australian Junior National Championship titles, 26 NSW Open Championship titles by side of numerous medals in all levels, set NSW open and junior records, as well as having represented Australia in international competitions such as Commonwealth Games, World Junior Championships, Oceania Championships, and have won 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 Degree 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 and multi events in NSW. Zsuzsa was team coach at the World University Games for pole vault, decathlon and high jump events in 2015, team coach at Pacific Games in 2023 for triple jump and heptathlon, at Pacific mini Games in 2017 for pole vault events.
Her experience as a coach began in 2004. Coached junior athletes to win Hungarian Championships in pole vault and multi events. She has also coached Korean National Team Pole Vaulters.
Zsuzsa moved to Australia in 2007. Her expertise got recognized soon after. She earned her citizenship as a distinguished talent, and her expertise was very needed in NSW to develop pole vault event. Thankfully to her hard work the event excelled quickly. Since then, her athletes have won multiply Australian Open National Championship, over 30 Australian Junior National Championship titles, 26 NSW Open Championship titles by side of numerous medals in all levels, set NSW open and junior records, as well as having represented Australia in international competitions such as Commonwealth Games, World Junior Championships, Oceania Championships, and have won gold and silver medals in World University Games.
Zsolt Zsombor OLY
Physical preparation lead
Zsolt is a two times Olympian in bobsled, who started his sport career on the athletics track, as a decathlete and a sprint hurdler. Coming from his own competitive career and working/collaborating for 11 years with the NSW Institute of Sport, he initiated a LTAD approach to programming and philosophy for multiple sports (Gymnastics, Diving, Combat sports, Winter sports, Cycling, Track and Field, Field hockey) to both senior and junior domestic athletes and teams, to lead their physical preparation.
Through this they were able to achieve performances across multiple world championships and Olympic games.
During this time, he worked with multiple sport coaches and well versed in mentoring student interns to understand programs, create greater buy-in to the strength and conditioning program to develop a certain required level of fitness within the squads and athletes which would ensure performance was delivered to the sports at benchmark events.
His coaching values align to the sport’s vision of ‘what’s best for the Athletes’, ‘a learning focus', ‘an intent to discover what’s possible’. Specifically, commitment to what is possible allowed him to transition from Olympic Athlete to Elite Strength and Conditioning Coach, it also allowed him to relocate from Hungary to Australia and continue his coaching journey. “Education and learning” are keys to driving culture within a sport and a foundation to any strength and conditioning program. He holds a Master of Education Degree in Physical Education, ASCA Level 3 Elite Pro-scheme Coach, AA Level 4 T&F Coach (multi events).
Zsolt believes that his international level of experience and knowledge will allow him to be a key contributor to the development and future achievement of sporting excellence for Australian athletes.
See the achievements of athletes Zsolt has been coached click here.
Zsolt is a two times Olympian in bobsled, who started his sport career on the athletics track, as a decathlete and a sprint hurdler. Coming from his own competitive career and working/collaborating for 11 years with the NSW Institute of Sport, he initiated a LTAD approach to programming and philosophy for multiple sports (Gymnastics, Diving, Combat sports, Winter sports, Cycling, Track and Field, Field hockey) to both senior and junior domestic athletes and teams, to lead their physical preparation.
Through this they were able to achieve performances across multiple world championships and Olympic games.
During this time, he worked with multiple sport coaches and well versed in mentoring student interns to understand programs, create greater buy-in to the strength and conditioning program to develop a certain required level of fitness within the squads and athletes which would ensure performance was delivered to the sports at benchmark events.
His coaching values align to the sport’s vision of ‘what’s best for the Athletes’, ‘a learning focus', ‘an intent to discover what’s possible’. Specifically, commitment to what is possible allowed him to transition from Olympic Athlete to Elite Strength and Conditioning Coach, it also allowed him to relocate from Hungary to Australia and continue his coaching journey. “Education and learning” are keys to driving culture within a sport and a foundation to any strength and conditioning program. He holds a Master of Education Degree in Physical Education, ASCA Level 3 Elite Pro-scheme Coach, AA Level 4 T&F Coach (multi events).
Zsolt believes that his international level of experience and knowledge will allow him to be a key contributor to the development and future achievement of sporting excellence for Australian athletes.
See the achievements of athletes Zsolt has been coached click here.
