Guide Dog Awarded With Medal On The Olympic Podium, And He Just Can't Hold His Excitement
Carina Edlinger’s medal moment in Beijing had an unexpected star, and it was not another athlete. As the Austrian Paralympian stood on the podium after winning gold, her guide dog Riley was right there with her, soaking in the scene and drawing plenty of attention.
Riley has been by Edlinger’s side for years, helping her navigate daily life and competition as a visually impaired athlete. The bond between them was already strong, but the medal ceremony gave Edlinger a chance to celebrate the dog who helped make it all possible.
And Riley’s reaction made the moment even more memorable.
Riley watched in excitement as they brought the medals for her and Edlinger; she then jumped up to take a sniff in the hopes of finding something special for herself.
The 5-year-old doggo has been by Edlinger’s side for quite a while now.
And it’s the same kind of gratitude as the donors who helped a blind man keep his life-saving hero dog.
Here's the full video of Edlinger receiving her gold medal with her guide dog Riley:
Gold medalist Carina Edlinger presents a prize to her guide dog Riley 🤗
Edlinger always makes sure to credit her dog whenever she gets the opportunity.
"Today is International Guide Dog Day 🐕🦺🥳
Yes, I love my dog; he's my best buddy and friend who always follows me along my way. He even came along to China, where he completely stole everyone's show 😂 A dog can give so much, and especially with our Paralympics Beijing 2022 experience, he was more than just a dog for all of us," she wrote on her Instagram.
She made sure to praise her "little black Ferrari" on International Guide Dog Day.
"Living trapped in such a different and strange world, not just for me, but for a lot of us, we were just happy to have a pet around to stroke, to be able to walk outside, or just to have him spreading joy. He dries tears on a bad day and is there on the good ones as well, and yeah, I guess we both need our cuddle times 🤗 All I want to say is that a guide dog is more than just a loving pet; he's my number one, and even though I can't drive a car, I have my little black Ferrari as my extended eyes 🐶💖"
Everyone fell in love with Riley and his reaction while receiving his medal on the Olympic podium. It was certainly more entertaining to watch Riley than all the other human athletes combined.
Riley posed with the other athletes for photos afterward, celebrating his win. He was proud of what he was able to achieve with his mom and was glad they got to experience it together.
Guide dogs never get the credit they deserve; they help their humans in so many different ways and have incredible abilities that help them avoid obstacles and guide them in many ways.
Riley clearly knew this was his moment too.Want another heartwarming “Gabe was the obvious choice” moment from a wounded veteran’s wedding? See the golden retriever chosen as the honorary companion.
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