Coaching Tip of the Stolberg | Family First for High Jump Duo

For Toby and Marty Stolberg, athletics is the tip of the iceberg. The inseparable duo set a high bar in the field but place family and friendship over the flop, with the 16-year-old World Under 20 finalist opening up on their special bond this Mother’s Day.

Reflecting on her relationship with her Mum, Toby chooses her words wisely. The Queensland teenager who owns a 1.82m personal best and soared to a top-eight finish at last year’s World Under 20 Championships begins to shape an image of their dynamic.

“As a coach, I would say she is very understanding and very kind. She is not one of those harsh coaches that yells at you if you aren’t running hard enough, she pushes you hard but is really motivating and supportive,” Toby says.

“She is definitely an organised Mum, and very funny! I’m not sure I’m allowed to say how old she is, but you wouldn’t think she is over 50. She is just like a teenager and one of my friends, we do dances together and go out shopping – she is my best friend.”

Brushing over the fact that she clashes with her Mum from time to time like most teenagers do, Toby explains that there has never been a doubt in her mind that her Mum is the perfect coach for her – crediting their personal relationship as their greatest asset:

“It was never a question of if I should be coached by my Mum or not. Me and my Mum have such a good relationship that it is better than any other coach could ever have, and when we get home she is just my Mum – we have that really good balance,” Stolberg said.

“Because I’m so comfortable with her I can tell her anything. Even throughout a training program, I can tell her that I’m not sure about certain weeks or drills, and we can just talk about it over dinner. It’s pretty cool.”

With Marty undertaking Athletics Australia’s Women in High Performance Coaching program and continuing to grow her senior squad to support her current crop of juniors, Toby continues to serve as a role model within the squad – despite having a role model of her own:

“My Mum has always said that her goal in life at my age was to go to the Olympics, and now that she is older, she wants to coach someone to go the Olympics - I’m hoping I can be that person. She is very driven and she loves what she does, and her passion inspires me to find the joy in what I do because she definitely finds the joy in coaching.”

Growing up surrounded by athletics, Toby has forged her own dreams which continue to be complimented by Marty’s skillset, with her success to date stemming from a genuine love for the sport and ambition to reach greater heights under the watchful eye of her Mum.

“I took my first steps down the back straight of my home track, which is kind of funny. I always wanted to join in and then when I did, I wasn’t as good as the others so I would just cry and be really sad,” Stolberg says.

“My Mum started coaching me for the flop when I was 10, but I have been around her coaching since I was in the womb, so it’s kind of like she has been coaching me for my whole life.”

Toby hopes to be selected for the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago this August, fresh off her selection to join the Queensland Academy of Sport as she builds towards the 2024 World Under 20 Championships.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mums who have and continue to contribute to raising happy and healthy athletes.

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 14/5/2023