Koda, Ryan Crouser's Labrador, helps him stay grounded under immense pressure as an Olympic gold medalist.

Ryan Crouser’s name is synonymous with the sport of shot put.

After successfully defending his title in Tokyo in 2021, it was almost anticipated that he would be present at the Paris Olympics. However, a series of injuries this year put that in jeopardy.

In an interview with Planet Chronicle Digital, the American shot put champion discussed the difficulties of recovering from injury to win gold at the U.S. Olympic trials in Oregon last month, which will enable him to make history in Paris by becoming the first man to ever win three gold medals in shot put.

Koda, Crouser's dog, plays a surprising role in his ability to stay mentally focused during his physical recovery through nutrition and training.

"Crouser praised his training partner, stating, "She's been a fantastic training partner. I'm fortunate to train at home, and with every workout, I try to capture a small percentage of her enthusiasm. It doesn't matter what we're doing; she's always up for it. Whether it's going out and returning or picking up the shot after my 30th throw, it's always exciting for her to go out there and get it. She's been a fantastic training partner and has become a member of the family.""

Crouser stated that his partnership with Nulo helps him maintain a healthy lifestyle and separate his performance on the track from his own self-worth.

"As a professional athlete, it can be challenging to separate your sense of self and self-worth from your athletic performance. In track and field, our performance is easily measurable and cut and dried, making it easy to internalize negative evaluations."

He continued: "Regardless of whether I have a great throwing session or a terrible day, she loves me unconditionally. This has made having her so special because it has complemented something I've struggled with throughout my career."

Nulo has teamed up with eight athletes, including Simone Biles and Caeleb Dressel, for the Fuel Incredible campaign, which emphasizes the bond between athletes and their pets as they strive for greatness.

Crouser, a 31-year-old athlete, is a three-time world champion and has four NCAA shot put titles from his time at the University of Texas. He currently holds the world record in both the indoor and outdoor shot put.

In 2016, he won his first Olympic gold in Rio, and he repeated the feat in Tokyo in 2021.

Subscribe to the Planet Chronicle Sports Huddle newsletter and follow Planet Chronicle Digital's sports coverage on X.