'Sport can change your life': Paralympian Olivia Breen's important message after Tokyo medal

Welsh Paralympian Olivia Breen has an inspiring message for anyone wanting to take up sport after she fulfilled her lifelong dream of winning a medal at the games.

Breen broke a Paralympic record, and set a new personal best, on her way to a bronze medal in the T38 long jump on Tuesday.

Breen said she was "ecstatic" after finishing on the podium for the first time at a Paralympic games.

She said: "Sport is incredible."

"Sport can change your life as it's done for me. Find your passion and keep going - don't ever give up.

"It can be a journey and there can be lows but with moments like this it's totally worth it."

When asked what impact the coronavirus pandemic had on her preparations she said she was able to make the best of it.

"The pandemic really helped me because it meant I could work on my weaknesses and it obviously really payed off.

"I thought "what's the point in stopping training?" and it's really paid off."

She continued: "Ten years of hard work and I've finally got my individual medal and I'm just ecstatic."

Breen set a new Paralympic record with her opening 4.91m jump.

But this did not stand for long with Luca Ekler of Hungary soaring to a massive world record of 5.63m to take gold and Russia's Margarita Goncharova second in 5.29m.

Breen made headlines before the start of the Paralympics after an official said her running briefs were "too short."

Breen spoke to Channel 4 after the the event and said: "I’m over the moon. I've been working for five years for this and I'm so happy it came together.

"I was so, so nervous but tried to tell myself to enjoy it. It’s a lucky stadium for me and, during the pandemic, it’s amazing that the Games went ahead."

The long jump is Breen's second event in Tokyo. She came sixth in the T38 100 metres last week after finishing in a time of 13.13 seconds.