With a beaming smile the passionate para athlete proudly recalls her many “amazing” memories from the last two editions of the Commonwealth Games, from which she has claimed two gold medals and a bronze. 

They were not her first multi-Games experiences though.  

Breen, who initially specialised in T38 100m and 200m sprints, won bronze with the British Women’s 4x100m Relay T35-T38 line-up at London 2012 Paralympic Games, before Glasgow 2014 presented her with the “surprise” opportunity to contest a new event. 

She had only been 18 for 24 hours when she stepped into the Commonwealth Games arena for the first time to take on the T37/38 Long Jump competition. The teenager excelled, but would finish agonisingly close to a maiden major individual honour, in fourth. 

While “frustration” is one of her overriding memories of that time, she admits that experience only fuelled her to future successes, across Paralympic Games, World and European Championships, as well as the Commonwealth Games themselves. 

“I think I was four centimetres from a bronze medal and I was (probably) talking too much,” she admits with a smile. “So yeah, I learned a lot from that, but I have a lot to thank Glasgow 2014 for because without that Games I would probably never taken up Long Jump.” 

Olivia Breen competes at Gold Coast 2018

Photography Credit: Commonwealth Sport

Breen would go on to become a world champion for the first time in 2017 and that achievement came not on the track, but from the Long Jump contest. 

That would soon become her first-choice event, something she underlined at Gold Coast 2018, where she added a Commonwealth Games title to her collection – from the T37-38 Long Jump discipline – while also claiming bronze in the T38 100m. 

“It was just amazing,” recalls Breen. “Walking out into the stadium was just ‘wow’. 

“In 2014 I was young and I didn’t really have much experience, but then in 2018 the Australian people, as well as the two medals, just made it such a really special time.” 

Olivia Breen celebrates her T38 100m victory at Birmingham 2022

A Long Jump Paralympic bronze would follow at Tokyo 2020, before she switched her focus back on sprinting – and the T38 100m discipline – for her third Commonwealth Games.  

“Birmingham 2022, was probably the best time of my life,” says Breen, who stunned home-favourite and reigning Paralympic and Commonwealth champion Sophie Hahn of England in the 100m showdown. 

“Obviously getting the gold, having the home crowd and being captain for the athletics team was really special.” 

Breen’s success, combined with the support she felt from the crowd at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium, further solidified the importance of the Commonwealth Games in her mind, particularly when it comes to promoting Para Sport. 

“The Commonwealth Games is just so special and it's just so great that they have Para events in there, which really helps to get disabled sport out there as much as possible,” she says. 

“As far as inspiring the next generation it’s really important, because Paralympic sport is growing, but we need to get the message out there more because when you have disabilities, sport helps you so much. 

Breen continues; “Obviously for me, having cerebral palsy, I don't think I'd be able to do the things I can without having sports, so I'm really grateful to have the opportunities because it’s allowed me to get my body to do things I never thought would be possible.” 

Olivia Breen celebrates with friends and family at Birmingham 2022

Glasgow 2026 will mark something of a ‘full-circle’ moment for the track and field star as she returns to the scene of her first Commonwealth Games, now as a seasoned champion. 

Breen, who will step up her preparations for Glasgow 2026 at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi this week, states that upon learning the Scottish city would host the next Commonwealth Games she screamed “YEAH” very loudly. 

“I'm just so happy that they've actually agreed to have the Commonwealth Games and when I found out I was so relieved,” says the Welsh athlete. 

“I had my first Commonwealth Games when I was 17-18 and I’ll be 30 next year, so it’s really exciting because I know all my family and friends can come at watch a home Games,” says Breen, who is targeting a T38 100m and T37-38 Long Jump double in 2026. 

“I’m looking forward to being back in the stadium again, but bringing the experience I now have and hopefully that will help me not only enjoy it more, but get some medals too!” 

Olivia Breen receives gold at Birmingham 2022

By Nick Hope, Glasgow 2026 Content Creator