Tabby Stoecker with the ultimate prize at the Winter Olympics

AN Olympic gold medal is coming home to north London after a dramatic weekend on an ice chute in Italy.

And the roots of Tabby Stoecker’s place on the top of the podium in Milan can be traced back to days flying about in a council-run gym in Kentish Town.

The 25-year-old from Highgate came first alongside teammate Matt Weston in the mixed doubles skeleton event at the Winter Games on Sunday, a reward for hurtling down the ice chute track on a tray at 140km/hour.

Her interest in sports began when she was a girl and her mother, Alison Stoecker, took her to gymnastics sessions at the Talacre Community Sports Centre.

It is such a popular course that parents once queued around the block for their children to be able to give it a go.

She later enrolled in the National Centre for Circus Arts in Old Street, where the big aspiration was to be in Cirque du Soleil.

It was only during the Covid lockdown, and whilst at university in Cardiff, that Ms Stoecker saw a recruitment event being advertised by Team GB and decided to go along.

From 10,000 applicants, she was identified as one of the most promising and was brought down to Bath — which hosts the only track in the country — to continue training.

“Tabby had never tried skeleton, she probably didn’t even know what it was,” her sister, Paloma, told the New Journal.

“She was so academic her entire life growing up. Going from wanting to be a neurosurgeon to diving head-first down an ice slope is quite a 180. We were all in shock.”

Tabby’s friends and family among supporters in Milan Cortina

She added: “When she first started out it was so petrifying, scary, the first few years watching her do it made me feel sick.”

Out in Italy to support her sister, Paloma said: “Her being in lockdown, she thought: why not? And thank God, because it has taken her on this fantastic journey.

“It speaks a lot to her courage and her character to take that leap of faith and try something new. She goes into it with her whole heart, and it’s just beautiful to see her do something to this incredible level.

“It’s ironic because if you see her running standing up, she’s like Phoebe from Friends, but bending over and pushing a sled, she’s like Usain Bolt.”

Although she missed out on a medal in the individual skeleton contest, she was back with her long-term teammate and friend, Mr Weston, for the doubles and a nail-biting ride to the finish.

Her mother, Alison, described the moment supporters looked at Mr Weston’s time and knew the pair were first.

“It was just euphoric,” she told the New Journal.

“We were all screaming and crying and hugging and kissing.”

Our sister title, the Islington Tribune, told readers to look out for Tabby ahead of the competition

The family only gets a few minutes to celebrate with their athlete before they are whisked away to be drug-tested.

But nothing could take away from seeing her beaming as the gold medal was put around her neck.

“We had people coming up to us saying how much they love Tabby and how much they admire her,” Alison said.

“She picked me up, and I was so proud. It’s the first time this event has ever happened. No matter what, she’ll go down in history.

“And the fact that she wasn’t feeling at her million per cent and still pulled it out of the bag. It shows how much more she has to give. She works so hard for this, she epitomises dedication and she loves inspiring others.”

Ms Stoecker will now stay in Cortina until the closing ceremony later this week, but Alison, who is standing as an independent candidate in Islington’s council elections in May, hopes she will return home to north London for some time off soon.

“I know the team have their moment to celebrate and get whisked off to an unknown venue until one in the morning,” Alison said.

“It’s great they can be all together and enjoy their success for a moment. I’m hoping she’ll come back home, but I know there are all types of obligations once you win the gold and it will be a busy schedule.

“She really wants to inspire others to achieve and try to live up to any potential – that’s living life.”