Dogs ease stress for competition swimmers at championships

In a first for Australian sport, Swimming Australia, in collaboration with Guide Dogs Queensland, has introduced trained support dogs on the pool deck.

The initiative began at the Australian Open on the Gold Coast in April and is designed to support athlete wellbeing by providing a calm presence in a high-pressure environment.

Inspired by the US gymnastics team that used therapy dogs at their Olympic selection trials, Swimming Australia national wellbeing and engagement manager Linley Frame pitched the idea to trial Dogs on Deck at the Australia Open.

Olympic gold medallist Shayna Jack is already a Guide Dogs Queensland Ambassador, so it seemed a natural fit. Frame says high levels of stress can impact athletes and contact with animals can lower this stress.

“Interacting with animals even briefly can raise the brain’s level of oxytocin and we want to explore creating an environment for athletes to escape the hype and anxiety that may come with competition,” says Frame.

Guide Dogs Queensland CEO Jock Beveridge says they are proud to be supporting Swimming Australia and its athletes, and the collaboration provided an opportunity to showcase some of their highly trained dogs in a meaningful wellbeing context, supporting swimmers before and after events.

“Our dogs have undergone extensive training at our Queensland campus and have been carefully selected for this environment based on their temperament and ability to remain calm and responsive in busy, high-energy settings,” he says.

“Our services extend beyond guide dog mobility to include orientation and mobility, psychology, occupational therapy, assistive technology support, and community programs, all designed to enhance independence and quality of life.

“And our presence during the Australian Open on the Gold Coast supports a simple but powerful goal: helping athletes perform at their best by supporting their wellbeing.”

IMAGE: The guide dogs are helping athletes perform at their best by supporting their wellbeing. Image by Delly Carr