Kalisz won gold at the Tokyo Olympics in the 400 - measure individual potpourri and skip to medal again in Paris . But he could n’t do it without Floyd .
Nulo
Two - clip Olympian medallist Chase Kalisz has a special relationship with hisEnglish English bulldog , Floyd , who help him navigate the ups and down of mental wellness as a professional athlete . forwards of Paris 2024 , Chase and Floyd have partnered with Nulo for itsFuel Incrediblecampaign , which is highlighting the relationship between eight Team USA athlete and their pets .
Photo:Nulo
" The biggest thing that Floyd does for me is it does n’t matter if I have a good day , a bad day , if I drown well , if I float badly , " Kalisz tell Daily Paws . " No matter what , I take the air through my threshold , he runs up to me every unmarried time , and there ’s no better feeling than that in the earth . And anyone that ’s a pet owner knows how groovy that flavour is . I can just see him and see his agitation , and it helps me unwind , just relax , and finger sleep together . "
Inspiration from Michael Phelps
Kalisz ’s philia for English bulldogs stem from childhood , but more specifically , his brother - like relationship with Michael Phelps , who is allegedly also pretty serious at swim .
" I acquire up training with Michael Phelps at a really young years , and he would always bring his English bulldog Herman to the pool , " Kalisz says .
But Herman did not inherit his daddy ’s love of swimming , alternatively using practice time to get a good cat sleep in .
" Herman would slowly dodder up to the pool deck at the sluggish place that he could go , and then he would just plunk down down and sleep by the puddle , " Kalisz sound out . " And then [ Phelps ] would get out of pattern and Herman would be unrestrained and do his waddle back . "
Bringing Floyd Home
Just a handful of years later on , Kalisz would become a English bulldog himself by committing to the University of Georgia , domicile of the Georgia Bulldogs .
" I still in my caput at that meter really want a English bulldog , and it probably did n’t hurt that I was surrounded by bulldog and in bulldog earth , " Kalisz says .
But Kalisz was patient and waited until he finished shoal to take the plunge into click ownership in 2017 . Since then , he ’s been the proud owner of Floyd , a now six - yr - old English bulldog , who has provided much - ask emotional support to the Olympian in the most stressful , and at times , loneliest days of his biography .
" manifestly swimming is not a team fun , " Kalisz says . " My training partners — I conceive them very much my teammates , but at the end of the day , you have to step up on the block and deal with everything yourself . The stress of preparation — the genial aspect , the competing — it ’s all on you . "
Swimming with Floyd
In summation to routinely relax together on the couch , Kalisz has withdraw Floyd on a couplet of aquatic adventures outside the menage , include to the consortium , just like Phelps and Herman , and to the beach . And it turns out Floyd may be the most talented swimming bulldog in the account of the stock , showing hope from a very young eld .
" When Floyd was younger , we had a heavy doggy daycare in Athens [ Georgia ] , " Kalisz say . " I was there one day , and we put him in the training pool , and he ended upswimmingto the abstruse destruction . But Floyd ’s not much of a swimmer these days , so maybe I ’ll get him back in the syndicate , and we ’ll see where he ’s at . "
Paris Olympics 2024
Floyd ’s swim adventures may have to hold off until Dad returns from the 2024 Summer Olympics , however . Kalisz is a two - time Olympic medallist , deliver the goods silver in 2016 and gold in 2020 in the Men ’s 400 m Individual Medley , and has measure up once again .
What about Floyd ? Well , you may play he will be support Dad from afar . " Once I ’m racing , he ’ll be with my friend , and they ’ll put him in front of the TV , " Kalisz says . " And my parents had a lookout party with the NBC tv camera last sentence , and they pay back to bring Floyd up in the video , so I experience to see him in brief . "
But Kalisz wo n’t feel satisfied until he ’s reunify in person with his favorite pup .
" I ’m just activated to , first and foremost , get through the Olympic games and , you roll in the hay , hopefully stand for our country really well and do my absolute good , " Kalisz says . " But I ca n’t expect to get home . It ’s been a very wild , feverish year , very stressful . I really ca n’t wait to get home and just spend hebdomad of doing nothing with Floyd and just hanging with him . "
And make certain you and your dog take hold of the 2024 Olympics this summertime , which begins July 26 in Paris !
