Olivia Breen
A powerhouse of Welsh Paralympic sport, she combines explosive speed on the track with championship grit in the long jump pit.
Born 1996 (age 30)·Welsh Paralympic athlete·Birthday: July 26·Millennials
Biography
Olivia Breen's athletic career is a story of joyful persistence. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy, she found her calling early on the track, her talent propelling her to the London 2012 Paralympics as a 16-year-old. Since then, Breen has become a fixture for Great Britain and Wales, specializing in the T38 sprints and the F38 long jump. Her career is marked by a radiant competitiveness; she competes with a visible smile, even under maximum pressure. This attitude has carried her to the top of the podium at the Commonwealth Games, where she has shone for Wales, winning long jump gold in 2018 and a dramatic 100m gold in 2022. Beyond her medals, Breen is a vocal advocate for disability awareness and mental health in sport, using her platform to speak with refreshing candor about the challenges athletes face.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Olivia was born in 1996, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Olivia Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
Olivia's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Became a teenager
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Could drive
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2014Could vote
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Turned 21
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the gold medal in the F38 long jump at the 2018 Commonwealth Games for Wales.
- Secured the gold medal in the T37/38 100m at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in a personal best time.
- Represented Great Britain at three consecutive Summer Paralympics (2012, 2016, 2021).
- Holds multiple British records in T38 sprint and F38 long jump events.
Did You Know?
She is a trained dancer and has said dance lessons helped improve her coordination for athletics.
Breen is an ambassador for the charity Cerebra, which supports children with brain conditions.
She publicly called out an official at the 2021 English Championships for describing her competition briefs as 'too short and inappropriate.'
“I want to show people that having a disability doesn't stop you from achieving your dreams.”
