Strong Boost for Grassroots | Coach Appreciation Month

Maria “Maz” Strong speaks fondly of their Paralympic bronze medal in Tokyo, but there’s a lift in their voice when they speak about coaching in the Sporting Schools program through Athletics Australia – after all, it allows them to pursue a childhood dream. 

Those on the outside will remember Strong for their remarkable journey to the podium in Tokyo, having first picked up a shot at the age of 46 before clinching Paralympic bronze in the Seated Shot-Put at 50-years-old with an Australian and Oceania record of 6.63m. 

But long before Strong became a high performance athlete, they were fulfilling their passion for grassroots sport through a range of roles – all of which stemmed from their aspirations of becoming a teacher since the age of four. 

“I actually enjoy grassroots more than high performance. When I was young, I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up - but I was unable to complete teacher’s college due to health issues at the time,” Strong said. 

“Now I have ended up a swimming instructor and coaching athletics in schools and Little Athletics, it has been a different way to get to what I originally thought I would be doing – which is definitely not winning a Paralympic medal.” 

Within minutes of arriving at Brunswick South-West Primary School for their final coaching session with the students, a group has gathered at the door for a rockstar welcome – a feature of Strong’s school visits that has only improved since their Paralympic medal. 

“I thought it was going to be not the best time because they have been out of the routine, but it was actually something that they really needed,” said Teacher Sharron Bock. 

“The students have come back not quite listening as well since the COVID-19 lockdowns, so giving them something specific to focus on has been really good for them – they had to actually concentrate and you could see which ones were tuned in.”   

Strong’s inception in athletics came through becoming an Official in 2014 before qualifying as a Level 1 community coach and then finally making her competitive debut in 2017, but arguably their greatest asset as a coach are their experiences in life rather than athletics.   

“The idea of being a high performance athlete has been very difficult for me to adjust to because my head is still in grassroots,” Strong said. 

“At primary school, mostly I was sitting and watching. Unlike most people with disabilities, I went to mainstream schools and the idea of adapting physical education classes for people that can’t run or jump particularly well was apparently hard at the time.” 

It’s a memory that has left a lasting impression on Strong, who credits adaptability as one of their greatest strengths – proudly recounting a time in which they altered a session for students with mobility aids to go around the hurdles “slaloms tyle” rather than hurdling. 

“I want to keep people involved at their levels. For me it’s about people improving and people having fun; trying things that they might not have otherwise. I like that it’s not competitive, which might sound silly coming from a high performance athlete, but I like that they are competing against themselves,” Strong said. 

Still an active Official serving throughout the season and even the Australian Track and Field Championships, along with coaching in the Sporting Schools program – Maz’s contributions to athletics extend far beyond their shot-put prowess, making them just one of the many coaches to be celebrated during Coach Appreciation Month. 
 

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 13/12/2021