º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ-based athlete, Olivia Breen, shares her daily schedule in the run up to the Paralympic Games and details her training regime that, she hopes, will secure her a medal.
In conversation about what Breen describes as her “dream job”, she talks through her intensive training programme at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ and the benefits of the sports facilities on campus.
“[It has] great facilities, especially in the winter, with the indoor track”, Olivia said.
The 28-year-old two-time Paralympic medallist will often have three or four sessions each day, covering all aspects to prepare her physically and mentally for Paris.
Monday: jumping, sprints, core circuit
Tuesday: sprints, gym, reformer session
Wednesday: plyometrics, sprints/speed endurance, foot circuit after ankle injuries
Thursday: rest day, yoga
Friday: long-jumping, sprinting, gym
Saturday: speed endurance, core circuit
Breen details the sacrifices she has had to make in her pursuit of medalling at the games: going to bed early, making sure you eat healthy, visiting family, and ensuring recovery for next day of training. “It’s little, tiny snippets…but you’ve got to crack on with it. It’s so worth the hard work when it all comes together.”
Breen will showcase the preparation she has put in and contest for a medal in Paris in both the 100m and long jump respectively.
For all the latest º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ news around major global sporting events, visit the University’s dedicated website here: /sport/athletes-global-stage/
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Notes for editors
Press release reference number: 24/143
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.
It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2024 QS World University Rankings – the eighth year running – and University of the Year for Sport by The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2022.
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is ranked 6th in The UK Complete University Guide 2025, 10th in the Guardian University League Table 2024 and 10th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’, and in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.
The º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.
