At the Paralympic Games in Paris last summer, Olivia Breen represented ParalympicsGB as co-captain of the athletics squad alongside Dan Pembroke (javelin), and competed in both the T38 long jump and 100m race. Ahead of the Paralympic Games, Olivia recorded her Olivia Breen’s Paris Diaries with Tom Brown from BBC Radio Wales, which has been shortlisted for an award, with the winner announced in June. Having competed at four Paralympic Games, Olivia won Bronze at Tokyo 2020 in the T38 long jump, and Bronze at just 16 years old in the Women’s 4x100m Relay at her home Games in London in 2012. Further competitions for Olivia include the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris, winning Silver in long jump, and she is 2x Commonwealth champion having won Gold in long jump at the Gold Coast in 2018 and Gold in the 100m event in Birmingham in 2022 for Team Wales, with the latter being her first Gold sprint medal. Later this year, Olivia is hoping to compete in both the long jump and 100m race at the IPC World Championships in New Delhi in September, and in 2026, she is targeting the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. We recently caught up with Olivia about competing at four Paralympic Games with ParalympicsGB, becoming Commonwealth champion at the Gold Coast and in Birmingham and taking part in the T38 long jump and 100m sprints.
Last summer, you competed in Paris at your fourth Paralympic Games, how does it feel being selected for ParalympicsGB and continuing to represent the country at the highest level?
I feel so privileged to still be in this position after 13 years, it’s almost like a dream because every day I am doing something which I love and to be able to do it whilst representing my country is incredible.
What was it like competing at the Stade de France last year in both the T38 long jump and 100m race?
France put on such an amazing show and the support of the French people was incredible. It was wonderful to enter a full and noisy stadium with a phenomenal atmosphere after the relative quiet of Tokyo, where we had no family and friends. Obviously I was really disappointed not to medal in the long jump as I knew I was in great shape and capable of medalling but I enjoyed the experience and to be co-captain with Dan Pembroke was a huge honour.
Ahead of Paris, you recorded Olivia Breen’s Paris Diaries for BBC Radio Wales/BBC Sounds, can you tell us about this?
This was a podcast which I did with Tom Brown of BBC Radio Wales and it was so much fun to interview fellow Welsh athletes and to get to know them and learn about their preparations for Paris. I am really honoured as the show has been shortlisted for an award at the Celtic Media Awards Festival in Newquay in June.
How different did you find the experience competing at the Tokyo Paralympics during the coronavirus pandemic, which saw you come away with the Bronze medal in the T38 long jump?
Well, obviously my performance in Tokyo resulted in a medal so that was incredible and one of the greatest moments of my life. It was really sad not to be able to share that experience with family and friends who have supported me throughout my career but I think after the uncertainty of the pandemic, we were all just so grateful that the Games were actually taking place. In many ways, the team in Tokyo had the best team spirit because we were all relying on each other as we had no other support there.
What was the experience like winning Bronze in the Women’s 4x100m Relay at the 2012 London Paralympics in front of a home crowd?
That was the most phenomenal experience. My journey to 2012 happened so quickly and I barely had time to realise what was happening. For my first Games to be a home Games and to then win a medal was literally a dream come true. There were also 200 kids from my school in the audience, which made it even more special. I was just 16 and competing in front of 80,000 people. I still get goosebumps thinking about it now.
How is it competing at the British/UK Championships, where you most recently won Gold in the Women’s Para 60m at the 2024 UK Indoor Championships?
It’s always so much fun taking part in events with able-bodied athletes as well and I think it’s really important to shine a light on para-sport.
At the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris, you won Silver in the T38 long jump, what was this competition like to compete at?
All competitions are different but this one was exciting because it took place a year before the Paris Paralympics. It’s always fun to compete against the other T38 girls and the 2023 World Champs didn’t disappoint.
You are 2x Commonwealth champion, having won Gold in the long jump at the Gold Coast in 2018 and Gold in the 100m event in Birmingham in 2022, what are some of your favourite memories from competing at the Commonwealth Games for Team Wales over the years?
Winning Gold in the 100m in Birmingham is definitely the highlight of my career and I have had some incredible moments. I love wearing the Welsh vest and that Welsh team in Birmingham was so special. It was also the first individual Gold sprint medal I have won. I love to run and so to win a Gold medal doing what I love most in the world in front of a home crowd, after the uncertainty of the pandemic was on another level.
I love the Commonwealth Games because disabled athletes compete alongside non-disabled athletes – we are all one team, which is so refreshing!
What are some of your further favourite highlights of your athletics career so far?
There have been so many – I am so lucky to have this life! I have met the most amazing people and I guess these people and opportunities are further highlights.
How different do you find competing in long jump opposed to 100m and what do you enjoy about each?
I love long jump because it is a longer competition so if you get one jump wrong you get another chance to get it right. However, long jump is very technical and it is sometimes so tricky to get on the board, especially when you have a coordination impairment!
I love running – nothing makes me happier. But it’s over so quickly and you only get one chance and if you get a bad start it is hard to claw back a position. I enjoy the explosion of the 100m.
Can you tell us about your typical training day, and how much does your training change in the lead-up to a major competition?
So, I train five days a week for about five hours a day. Included in this time, we gym twice a week, do one runway session, one endurance session, one plyo session, one jump session and one speed session. As the season comes closer, the volume lessens – we lift lighter and it’s all about being lean and light. About a month before a big comp, we go into a heavy block and then back off as the competition approaches so we are fresh for the competition.
Have you been given any advice over your time as an athlete so far that has stuck with you, and what advice would you give someone hoping to get into athletics?
I was told to always take every opportunity which was offered to me and that is always my advice because you never know where it might lead. Nothing comes to you on a plate though and you have to work hard if you want results.
Where does your love of sports come from and how did you get into running and long jump?
At university my dad was a sprinter – he did the 100m in 10.9s. Sport was always important to our family and weeks before sports day, Dad had us down at a track practicing. My brothers are also fast and sporty and my little brother was regional high jump champion when he was younger.
Do you have any favourite sports to watch?
Obviously I love watching athletics even when I am not competing. I also really enjoy watching rugby. When the Olympics and Paralympics are on I watch it all and really like swimming and gymnastics.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I love my life in Loughborough and have lots of friends in the sporting community here so I am always busy! I also really enjoy walking – hangover from the pandemic – and like to go out every day to get my steps in.
Do you have any competitions coming up that you can tell us about or that you are targeting?
My big competition this year is the IPC World Championships in New Delhi in September where I hope to do long jump and 100m. Then in 2026 there are the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, which I am super excited about.
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