Born March 22, 1993 to parents, Robin and Charles, Catherine Breed is a decorated freestyle swimmer from Pleasanton, Calif. After graduating from Amador Valley High School in 2011 she decided to join Teri McKeever as a Cal Bear. Breed started swimming at the age of four when she joined a summer league team, she told USA Swimming that she always knew she was going to do something great with her life. At just 15 years old she qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials and was even seeded in the top 25 in each of her events. She’s followed that potential up with NCAA All-America honors and making numerous USA Swimming teams. At Berkeley, Breed was very involved within her community. A member of AIA (Athletes in Action) on campus, she took part in multiple community service initiatives including volunteering for the Special Olympics and the Boys & Girls Club in Oakland. She also took a trip to the Dominican Republic where she worked with orphans. In 2014 she was honored with the Walter A. Haas Jr. Community Service Award for her volunteer work and community service.
UC Berkeley
2011-2012
As a freshman, Breed was a member of Cal’s 800m freestyle relay that finished second at the NCAA Championships. She also swam the 200 freestyle as well as the 500, which she finished 11th. At her first Pac 12 Championships she finished third in the mile and picked up a sixth-place finish in the 200 freestyle.
2012-2013
Breed qualified again for the 2013 NCAA Championships after a successful Pac 12 meet. She finished 12th in the 500 freestyle and 14th in the 200 freestyle and also was a member of the 800 freestyle relay that took third. At the Pac 12 meet she finished in the top eight in all three of her individual events.
2013-2014
In her junior season Breed won the ‘B’ final in the 500 freestyle at the Pac 12 meet and she also finished eighth in the mile. At the NCAA meet Breed finished just outside the final, taking 17th in the 500 freestyle, 31st in the 200 freestyle and 34th in the 1,650. She received the Walter A. Haas Jr. Community Service Award in 2014.
2014-2015
In her senior season as a Cal Bear at the Pac 12 Championships, Catherine Breed finished 15th in the 500 freestyle as well as 25th in the 200 freestyle and 16th in the mile.
International Competition
Breed was a member of the U.S. National Youth Team from 2008-2009 and 2009-2010. After making the Junior teams, she stepped up to making the National Team after a great performance at the 2011 summer Nationals where she finished second in the 200m freestyle – her swim also put her on the 2011 Pan Pacific Team roster. At Pan Ams in 2010 she swam a gold-medal performance in the 200m freestyle and also won gold as a member of the 800m freestyle relay. At the 2010 World Cup in Moscow she also earned medals – coming home with a silver and bronze medal.
Breed qualified for both the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials. She also was a 21-time high school All-American.
