Michaela Alica Breeze (born 17 May 1979) is a British former weightlifter. Breeze was born in Watford and raised in Cornwall and educated at Wadebridge School. 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. Breeze is well known for commentating at various events including Rio Olympics and Tokyo Olympics.
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.
Breeze also taught PE at Ivybridge Community College in Devon. She was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2011 Birthday Honours for services to weightlifting.
Major results YearVenueWeight Snatch (kg) Clean & Jerk (kg) Total Rank123Rank123RankOlympic Games2008 Beijing, China 63 kg 8085---14809010014185142004 Athens, Greece 58 kg 92.59597.59115120112.514212.59Commonwealth Games2014 Edinburgh, Scotland 58 kg 919395310810911332022010 Delhi, India 63 kg 909294211011011322022006 Melbourne, Australia 63 kg 9598100111612012222202002 Manchester, England 58 kg 87.587.587.5107.5112.5112.5200World Championships 2007 Chang Mai, Thailand 63 kg 979797911812112111215102003 Vancouver, Canada 58 kg 87.5909013107.5107.5107.517195162002 Warsaw, Poland 58 kg 87.592.5954107.5107.5112.5620552001 Antalya, Turkey 58 kg 75808010909510012175121999 Piraeus, Greece 58 kg 8082.58514100102.51051818515European Championships 2008 Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy 63 kg 96991016117120120521952006 Wladyslawowo, Poland 63 kg 959898117120122422042005 Sofia, Bulgaria 63 kg 92.59597.51151151205212.542004 Kyiv, Ukraine 58 kg 92.595954112.5117.51205212.542003 Loutraki, Greece 58 kg 9092.592.54112.5115115202.52002 Antalya, Turkey 58 kg 808587.56102.5107.51105192.561999 La Coruna, Spain 58 kg 72.577.580692.597.5100717561998 Riesa, Germany 58 kg 7072.575887.592.59561657World Junior Championships 1999 Savannah, Georgia, United States 58 kg 7577.580595100102.518041998 Sofia, Bulgaria 58 kg 707577.587.592.592.56167.55European Junior Championships 1999 Spala, Poland 58 kg 77.58082.597.5100100182.51998 Sofia, Bulgaria 58 kg 707577.59092.592.5165
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. Gold medal in the 2006 Commonwealth Games. 10th position in the 63 kg category at the 2007 World Weightlifting Championships. 5th position in the 63 kg category at the 2008 European Weightlifting Championships. 14th position in the 63 kg category of the 2008 Summer Olympics. 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.
Notes and references
External links
Interview for BBC Sport Profile for Athens 2004 Athlete Biography at beijing2008