5 Pet Parents Going for the Gold

5 Pet Parents Going for Gold

Today is the start of the Games of the XXX Olympiad.

While many fans will travel to London to see their favorite athletes in action, some four-legged fans will have to be content to stay home and watch their pet parents go for the gold.

But that doesn’t mean these dogs should go unrecognized for their contribution. In fact, some of them are quite athletic themselves.

Michael Phelps, Swimmer

Michael Phelps may have 16 Olympic medals and be one of the most decorated Olympians in the history of the games, but the two biggest loves of his lives are his dogs, Herman and Stella.

Herman, a Bulldog, is affectionately called Big Herm, and Stella is a Catahoula mix he recently adopted after meeting her on NBC’s “Today.”

Phelps is a dedicated dog dad. As soon as he gets back from London, he intends to teach Stella how to swim, so she can spend more time with him and her furbrother in the pool.

That’s one swimming lesson I’d like to take.

Abby Wambach, Soccer Player

Abby Wambach is currently the second highest all-time goal scorer for the USA Women’s National Soccer Team, but it’s her dog, Winston, that steals the show.

You see, Winston, a Bulldog, is a brilliant skateboarder – move over Tillman – often receiving praise for his talent while his soccer star mom takes the backseat. However, Wambach admits she thinks Winston’s favorite part of skateboarding is chewing on the board more so than riding it.

Perhaps chewing on his board makes Winston a better skater.

Ryan Lochte, Swimmer

Ryan Lochte is an incredibly well-rounded champion and poised to really give fellow swimmer, Michael Phelps, a run for his medals. But when he is not swimming, his heart belongs to Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. No, not the famous rapper more popularly known as Lil’ Wayne, but Lochte’s Doberman.

Lochte recently tweeted, “Carter decided to sleep under the covers between my legs … He misses daddy.”

Is there room in that bed for one of my dogs?

Venus Williams, Tennis Player

Williams is a powerhouse on the tennis court, there is no doubt about that, but when it comes to dogs, she turns to mush.

Dog mom to two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and a Havanese called Harold, Williams knows how special the bond between human and dog really is.

“You’re out there on your own and you need a friend who’s there for you – wins, losses – and who really cares for you,” she said in an interview with People.

I bet her dogs feel the same way.

Lolo Jones, Hurdler

Lolo Jones likes to run as fast as she can while jumping over hurdles, which is a good thing, because she currently holds the record in the 60-meter hurdles. It should come as no surprise that she intends to turn that record into gold.

But when she’s at home, she prefers the company of her running partner, a Weimaraner she calls Boudreaux Jones. She recently tweeted that he was quite upset when he learned there would be no doggie Olympics:

“Sadly when i told em no doggie olympics, he lost motivation 2 run. Overdosed on bacon treats.”

Who doesn’t turn to food when they hear disappointing news? I know I do!

PHOTO: Twitter

Sonya Simpkins

Sonya Simpkins is a contributing writer for i Love Dogs, Inc. In her spare time, she loves to take her dogs for long hikes and treks to the beach, out to eat and on long road trips across the county. She then turns those adventures into useful advice for other dog parents who also love to take their dogs with them wherever they go.