Michaela Breeze

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]

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

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.

Personal Life

Breeze married Welsh netball representative Sinead Kelly in May 2015.[7]

Notes and references

1. "Michaela's last minute Games call | This is Cornwall". thisiscornwall.co.uk. 2012. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
2. "Weightlifters and Powerlifters announced in Wales' quest for 2010 Commonwealth Games glory". www.disability-sport-wales.org. 8 Gorff 2010. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2013. Check date values in: |date= (help)
3. Doel, Jon (26 July 2014). "Commonwealth Games: Michaela Breeze claims weightlifting bronze medal in farewell". WalesOnline. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
4. "No. 59808". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 June 2011. p. 14.
5. "Devon people recognised in Queen's Birthday Honours". BBC. 11 June 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
6. "BREEZE Michaela". International Weightlifting Federation.
7. "Sinead Breeze Aims To Blow Away Opponents At The Commonwealth Games . . . Just Like Michaela". www.dai-sport.com. 1 April 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2019.

External links

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