Name: Melissa Breen

Date of Birth: 17 September 1990

Place of Birth: Canberra

Club: Woden Harriers

Coach: Matt Beckenham

Discipline(s): 60m/100m/200m

Personal Bests: 7.38sec/11.33sec/23.51sec

 

What or who got you interested in Athletics?

Athletics started for me at age 5, at Tuggeranong Little Athletics Club, I wanted to start because Matt was doing it and as the younger sister I just wanted to do everything he did! From there I developed a love for the sport, especially sprinting.
 

Best and worst thing about Athletics?

The best thing about athletics is being able to travel and race around the world, I have already raced and traveled to over 10 different countries and I am just at the beginning of my career! Cannot wait to see the rest of the world! The worst thing about athletics is the injuries and frustrations that can occur, but patience is an amazing skill to have!

  

Take us through a typical training session?

Warm up: 4 x laps jog (walk the bends and jog the straights), stretches and LOTS of drills!! Speed Session: 5 x 30m fly’s with 20m roll in OR Speed Endurance Session: 250m, 250m, and 200m off 6 minutes. A cool down is very important!! Light jogging, skipping and stretches to wind the body down!

 

Athletics career goals/aspirations?

To make the London 2012 Olympic Games in the 4 x 100m relay and the 100m. To be a finalist at the 2016 Olympic Games in the 100m and break the 11 second barrier in the 100m, which would then break the Australian Record held my Melinda Gainsford-Taylor.

  

Who is/are your idol(s)/hero(es)?

Melinda Gainsford-Taylor

  

Favourite food/drink/indulgence?

Nasi goreng (Indonesian Fried Rice)/Hot Chocolate/Chocolate!

 

Hobbies/passions?

I have started coaching a lot more these days and I am really enjoying it, I coach a lot of younger kids, but the eldest lady I coach is in her 70’s and she’s an absolute inspiration.

 

Favourite movies/books and why?

The Blind Side would be one of my favourite movies at the moment, as it is based on a true story.

  

Favourite travel destination?

Well I think I am very lucky as I get to travel all over the world and race, but one day I would love to travel somewhere hot where there is a beach, and spend a whole week doing nothing but relaxing and soaking up the sun!