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Olivia Breen Says Commonwealth Gold For Wales Makes Up For Rio Struggles

Olivia Breen Says Commonwealth Gold For Wales Makes Up For Rio Struggles

Cardiff Millenium Stadium Giant Welsh Flag Red Dragon is unfurled Credit: David Williams / Alamy

Olivia Breen underlined her status as the world’s best T38 para-athletics long jumper by winning Wales’ third gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. Breen smashed the Games record with a leap of 4.86m to win the title ahead of Australians Erin Cleaver (4.36m) and Taylor Doyle (4.22m). It was a personal best for Breen by just one centimetre and it comes after she won gold at the World Para Athletics Championships last summer.

Olivia Breen underlined her status as the world’s best T38 para-athletics long jumper by winning Wales’ third gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.

Breen smashed the Games record with a leap of 4.86m to win the title ahead of Australians Erin Cleaver (4.36m) and Taylor Doyle (4.22m).

It was a personal best for Breen by just one centimetre and it comes after she won gold at the World Para Athletics Championships last summer.

Breen, 21, who will also compete in the 100m, said: “It is a dream come true.

“After the Paralympics in Rio, Commonwealth Games was my aim and I have done it and I am so happy.

GOLD FOR OLIVIA!

#TîmCymru #TeamWales pic.twitter.com/WcZNIZuE4G

— Team Wales (@TeamWales) April 8, 2018

“With the last jump I just went for it after three no-jumps and I hit it.

“I can’t stop smiling. My cheeks are hurting. I will enjoy the day and then get ready for the 100m.”

It was a third gold for Wales of the 2018 Games following weightlifter Gareth Evans and cyclist Elinor Barker.

Breen, who has cerebral palsy, contemplated quitting after finishing 12^th at the Rio Paralympics in 2016 and where she also missed out on selection for the sprint relay.

But after moving to Loughborough, where she trains with the T44 long jump world champion Stef Reid under coach Aston Moore, she has made remarkable progress.

She beat Cleaver to gold at the World Championships in London by 20cm, but the victory was more conclusive this time around with a winning margin of half a metre.