Michaela Breeze

Michaela Breeze

Personal information
Born	17 May 1979
Medal record Representing  Great Britain European Championships 2003 Loutraki 58 kg Representing  Wales Commonwealth Games 2002 Manchester 58 kg - Snatch 2006 Melbourne 63 kg 2002 Manchester 58 kg - Clean & Jerk 2002 Manchester 58 kg - Total 2010 Delhi 58 kg 2014 Glasgow 58 kg

Michaela Alica Breeze MBE (born 17 May 1979) is a British former weightlifter. Breeze was born in Watford and raised in Cornwall and educated at Wadebridge School.^[1] She started weightlifting under the guidance of PE teacher Dave Allen. Breeze then went on to Bodmin Community College before attending the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff.^[2]

After nearly eighteen months of starting weightlifting she was put in touch with a new coach, Ken Price. She sustained a back injury in 2000, which saw her miss international competition and training for over a year.

After taking a silver at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Breeze retired from the sport and opened a gym in Aberdare. However, she made a comeback for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, motivated by a desire to push athletes she was coaching towards qualifying for the Games themselves . Breeze won a bronze medal in the 58 kg competition, setting a new Commonwealth Games snatch record and subsequently announced her second retirement.^[3]

Breeze also taught PE at Ivybridge Community College in Devon.^[2] She was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2011 Birthday Honours for services to weightlifting.^[4][5]

Career achievements

• Bronze medal in the Clean and Jerk at the World Junior Championships held in Savannah, USA in 1999.
• Winning the European Junior title in Poland in 1999.
• Gold in the snatch and silvers in the Clean and Jerk and combined total at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
• Bronze medal in the 58 kg class at the European Senior Championships in Greece in 2003.
• 9th position in the 58 kg class of the 2004 Summer Olympics.^[6]
• Gold medal in the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
• 10th position in the 63 kg category at the 2007 World Weightlifting Championships.^[6]
• 5th position in the 63 kg category at the 2008 European Weightlifting Championships.^[6]
• 15th position in the 63 kg category of the 2008 Summer Olympics.^[6]
• Won a Silver medal at 2010 Commonwealth Games held in Delhi, India in the Women's 63 kg Category.
• Won a Bronze medal at 2014 Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, Scotland.

Notes and references

External links

• Interview for BBC Sport
• Profile for Athens 2004
• Athlete Biography at beijing2008