We can’t wait to cheer on our very own EDI Ambassador, para-athlete, Commonwealth Champion and former World Champion, Olivia Breen, this year, in the T38 100m Sprint and F38 Long Jump events.
Introducing Olivia
For those who don’t know (where have you been?!), Olivia (known as Livvy) is a multiple award and medal-winning para-athlete, and, in 2022, became the first Welsh female track athlete to win a gold medal in 32 years. With cerebral palsy, she qualifies for the T/F38 (track/field) category and her events have included long jump, 100m and 200m sprints and the 4x 100m relay. She also has impaired hearing and some learning difficulties.
Livvy is very positive about her cerebral palsy and a fantastic role model for others with the condition. On ITV Cymru Wales’s Face To Face programme, she explained: “I don’t stop moving, I always have little tiny movements. I wouldn’t change it for the world; it’s made me who I am. I’m really glad I’m unique, I love it.”
Her major results include:
| 2023 | World Para Athletics World Championships, Paris | Long Jump – Silver |
| 2022 | Commonwealth Games, Birmingham | 100m Sprint – Gold |
| 2020 | Paralympic Games, Tokyo | Long Jump – Bronze |
| 2019 | World Para Athletics World Championships, Dubai | Long Jump – Bronze |
| 2018 | Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast | Long Jump – Gold
100m Sprint– Bronze |
| IPC Athletics European Championships, Berlin | 100m Sprint– Bronze | |
| 2017 | IPC Athletics World Championships, London | Long Jump – Gold |
| 2016 | IPC Athletics European Championships, Grosseto | 4x 100m – Gold |
| 2015 | IPC Athletics World Championships, Doha | 4x 100m – Gold |
| 2014 | IPC Athletics European Championships, Swansea | 100m Sprint – Bronze
4x 100m – Silver |
| 2012 | Paralympic Games, London | 4x 100m – Bronze |
In light of her recent efforts, which arguably make her the current most recognisable sports personality in Wales, she was awarded the title of BBC Cymru Sports Personality of the Year 2022, Athletics Weekly’s Para-athlete of the Year 2022 and the St David’s Award for Sport 2023
Ready, set… go!
As we enter competition season, Livvy has shared with us a little about how she’s feeling, her training and more.
“My training will largely stay the same as we enter this final period. I train five days a week with Thursdays and Sundays being my days off. Monday, Wednesday and Friday are my big days when I largely focus on sprints and jumps and then Tuesdays and Saturdays tend to be gym days. As we enter competition season, I will start lifting less heavily in the gym and will be focusing on being lean and light.
I am opening my season on 15th May with a 100m race in Loughborough and then will follow that with a competition most weeks either jumping or running. I have the one overseas competition in Switzerland in early June. The aim of these competitions is to improve with each event, aiming to peak in Paris. Historically I am best with 5 or 6 competitions under my belt so we plan my competitions with this in mind.
“It’s so hard to answer questions like this because you can never really predict what will happen on race day! My class, T38, is incredibly competitive, particularly in the 100m, with the girls getting faster all the time. There is a Hungarian in my class who jumps a meter further than the rest of the field and her running has also really improved so she is going to be the one to beat in each event. There is also an Australian who trains really hard and has a great attitude to the sport and deserves success.
I have had a great winter block of training and feel like I am in the shape of my life and I also have a lot of experience. I will go into each competition confidently and do my very best, so to come away with something shiny would be amazing!”
“You really can’t underestimate the importance of being mentally prepared. As I have got older, I am obviously more mature and experienced but also get more nervous because it means so much. I have really great people around me. I have had the same coach since 2016 and he is amazing, he knows me so well. I also have a fantastic psychologist who I speak to every couple of months, just to check in. I will speak to her more as the season progresses, just for a couple of minutes now and again. I also have amazing family and friends who give me so much support and keep me grounded.”
“Balance is really important, however as I start competing, preparation obviously dominates everything. I have been very strict with myself this year as I don’t want to have any regrets. I am being very careful not to travel too much because it’s tiring. This is hard as most of my family and friends live in the south and I am based in Loughborough. I have some amazing sponsors, like STR, and I am also an ambassador for charities, but over the next few months I am being careful about how many appearances I do as these can be really tiring as well.”
“I have such a great team behind me and, as I said before, I am so lucky. My coach and family and friends give me so much support and without all of them behind me it would be so much more difficult. I am also lucky because I really love training; I’m never happier than when I am on the track or in the sandpit!”
Support, promote and elevate
At STR Group, we understand the importance of supporting individuals in pursuing their dreams, whether in sports or in their professional careers. Our partnership with Livvy reflects our dedication to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Livvy supports us with our EDI objectives and works with the EDI Board to drive initiatives forward. She is instrumental in educating our employees on the importance of equality, diversity, inclusion and equity in and outside the workplace, which is flowed down to our clients and candidates as well.
So please join us in wishing Livvy the very best of luck with her training and competitions this year! We’re all behind you, Livvy, and can’t wait to see you in action.
Come back soon for more updates and exclusive content!
