Guide Dogs Boost Athletes at Australian Open

0:00It's April 7th, I'm Cory with the story, and this is Sydney News Today, local news powered by AI. At the Australian Open Swimming Championships on the Gold Coast, three guide dogs named Clover, Elton, and Eevee showed up poolside to help ease, athlete stress. These retrievers from Guide Dogs, Queensland hung out behind the blocks, letting swimmers pet them before races. The idea is simple. A quick interaction drops tension and boost focus in high-pressure spots. This pilot program got sparked by a golden retriever named Beacon at last year's US Gymnastics Olympic Trials, where the dog became a hit with, athletes like Simone Biles. Australian swimming legend Annette Frame saw similar vibes when swimmer Shayna Jack brought guide dogs to training, noticing instant relaxation in everyone around. Athletes lit up at the site, with stars like Molly O'Callahan and young gun Duke Shepherd crediting the dogs for calming, pre-raised jitters. Shepherd smashed a personal best in the 100-meter backstroke after padding Clover, while Shayna

1:03Jack squeezed one before her 50-meter, freestyle heat, qualifying fastest and grabbing gold later. Hit coach Rohan Taylor loves it too, saying his own dog chills him out, and he sees it as key for mental health. Frame plans to track results from this test run, with swimmers like Sam Williams and already parking near the dogs for that oxytocin hit. Just like these furry teammates could stick around for bigger meets like the Commonwealth Games Trials, or even the LA Olympics, keeping nerves low, and swims fast.