Paralympian Olivia Breen reveals the crucial contents of her suitcase
By Mark Ashenden
Last Updated: 14/09/15 1:23am
It's less than a year to go before the Paralympics get going in Rio.
One athlete who's dreaming of achieving more success on the biggest sporting stage is Olivia Breen who won bronze at London 2012.
So what does the 19-year-old sprinter and long jumper pack when she goes travelling?
The Sky Academy Scholar reveals her essential items that go into her suitcase.......
1. My I-phone
My phone is literally the most important thing in the world to me! I love that I can be in touch with all my friends all the time. I use it to watch catch-up TV, watch live streaming of events, check things on the internet - everything! When I was in Greece last month my phone was stolen and I was quite literally lost without it!
2. I phone Charger
Obviously as my phone is my most treasured possession I need something to charge it with!
3. Socks
I always take multi-coloured fluffy socks as my feet get cold on the plane.
4. Balls
I always have a tennis ball in my bag. Not to play tennis with but for rolling under my feet.
5. My Headphones
When I travel I love to listen to music. I have some noise cancelling headphones which I use with my hearing aids and using the headphones makes journeys go quicker.
Listening to music also helps me go to sleep when I am away so I can still do this without disturbing my room-mates. My favourite sounds are Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé
6. Trainers
Even if I am going on holiday I always take trainers with me so I can do some running or go to the hotel gym.
7. Games
I make sure I pack the card game Uno and travel Connect 4 as there is loads of down time while competing and training and it's good to have some fun things to do.
8. Sprint spikes, long jump spikes, spare spikes and spike spanner
All of this is my training and competition kit and equipment.
9. Hairdryer and straighteners
Hotel hair dryers are often rubbish so I like to have my hairdryer with me. I always like to have my hair straighteners with me as my hair is so curly!
10. IPad mini
When I am away on training camps, holding camps and competitions there is an awful lot of free time. If it's a holding camp you are not allowed to do very much other than train and rest so you save your energy for competition.
I get bored very easily so I like to be able to watch movies and Sky Go to help pass the time.
11. Spare hearing aids and batteries
I am almost totally deaf without my hearing aids so I always travel with spare aids and batteries as I am lost without them.
12. GoPro Camera
I take this to take video footage of me training and in competition. It's really useful to be able to watch films to see where my strengths and weaknesses are and I learn from this.
13. Food
I always take my own specific protein powder with me when I go away to help my recovery after training. Athletes have to be really careful what supplements we take and can only use approved ones so I always bring my own with me.
I also bring other healthy snacks with me when I go away. I am always hungry and often camps are in places with no shops so I always make sure I have plenty of things to eat!
WHAT'S COMING UP FOR OUR SCHOLARS...
SEPTEMBER 10-21: Olivia Breen - Warm weather training
SEPTEMBER 12: Holly Bradshaw - Gateshead
SEPTEMBER 26: Sam Oldham - Gymnastics London Open
