Club and Community | 05 April 2026
Who let the dogs out? We did!
With a golden legacy shaped by household names like Fraser, Thorpe, Cowdrey and McKeon, Australia has long established itself as a dominant force in the pool.
But behind every podium performance is the reality of high-performance pressure – and Swimming Australia is continuing to evolve the way we support our athletes to succeed.
In a first for Australian sport, Swimming Australia, in collaboration with Guide Dogs Queensland, will introduce trained support dogs on pool deck.
The initiative at this week’s Australian Open on the Gold Coast from April 6-8 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 this week’s Australia Open.
And with Olympic gold medallist Shayna Jack (pictured) a Guide Dogs Queensland Ambassador, it seemed a natural fit!
“We know high levels of stress can impact on our athletes and contact with animals can lower this stress,” Frame said.
“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.”
Guide Dogs Queensland said they were proud to be supporting Swimming Australia and its athletes and the collaboration provided an opportunity to showcase some of our 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,” CEO Guide Dogs Queensland Jock Beveridge said.
“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.”
