Paralympian Olivia Breen fighting the weather and running PBs
Sunday 28 August 2016 07:52, UK
Starring on TV, smashing personal bests, fighting sickness, studying, charity bike races and battling the wind and rain on athletics tracks all around Europe….
All part of the life of a teenage Paralympian striving for a place on the flight to next year’s Rio Olympics.
What has Olivia Breen been up to? With the summer athletics season under way, here’s her latest blog……
I have just returned from Italy where I was running in Grosetto at the IPC Grand Prix. I went there feeling in good shape and was hoping there wouldn’t be any problem with the rain and wind I have experienced at some of the meets in the UK in recent weeks!
I always love going into the SSNHQ studios - everyone is always so friendly, happy and positive - it was great to catch up with everyone
I was pleased with my performance in the 100m and 200m and I felt really strong in both. There weren’t any personal bests (PBs) because of strong head winds in Italy which I was not expecting!
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It was still a great experience though and I learned a lot.
Since coming back from Tenerife and my training camp life has been very busy with the season getting into full swing and it’s gone pretty well. My first 100m was at the Lee Valley Open a few weeks ago. I ran it in 13.62s which was my fastest 100m season opener.
I then competed at the Loughborough Internationals in a mixed ambulant race. I came third and would have run a PB of 13.46s but for the illegal wind!
More bad weather at the Bedford International Games.... It was the mixed class races and it was absolutely foul - raining and windy. I ran another PB though in 13.40s in the 100m but annoyingly there was another illegal wind! I ran a good race but was disappointed with my start.
I did however run a big (legal!) PB in the 200m of 28.27s in the most appalling weather which was nearly a second off my previous PB. I haven't been running 200m races as it is not a Rio event but I have always loved running the bend and it was great fun running it again.
I also went into the Sky Sports News HQ studios as part of Women's Week. I always love going there as everyone is always so friendly, happy and positive - it was great to catch up with everyone there.
Last weekend was a busy one but I wasn’t racing! It was my Dad's birthday so we all celebrated that. On Sunday I opened the annual LIDBA (Liphook and District Businessmen's Association) charity bike race into the village on behalf of the Dreams Come True charity of which I am an ambassador which is always great fun!
My next event is on July 1 at Watford where I am doing the 100m and long jump. This will be my first long jump competition of the season so that should be interesting.
I can't believe I’m in my final month at Oaklands College also so I have lots of work to do to finish my assignments. It's going to be a very busy June.
Olivia Breen is one of 12 athletes being supported through the Sky Academy Sports Scholarships scheme.
The Scholarships offer a programme of support tailored to each athletes specific requirements covering areas such as funding, media coaching, mentoring and wider developmental support.
Read here for full details of the scheme
