Olympic Skater Chases Gold With Dogs By Her Side

When Olympic speed skater Kristen Santos-Griswold walks through her front door after grueling training sessions, two tails start wagging. Bear, a 13-year-old husky, and his companion Coda don't care about lap times or whether she nailed her turns that day.

"That reset is everything," Santos-Griswold says. "They're just so happy to see me, and it puts everything back into perspective."

That perspective became essential over the past year. Santos-Griswold won the Crystal Globe as the world's top female short track speed skater and collected five World Championship medals in 2024. Then her body broke down with a shattered clavicle and serious back injuries that tested everything she thought she knew about herself.

The Milano-Cortina Olympic Games start next month, and Santos-Griswold is doing something that doesn't come naturally to elite competitors. She's being patient with herself.

"I've always been someone who wants to feel 100 percent every day," she admits. "This year, I had to accept that I wouldn't, and that was actually okay."

Instead of rushing her recovery or forcing early season results, she built slowly toward February 2026 when Olympic medals truly matter. She'll compete in five events in Milan, including three individual races and two relays.

The strategy worked. Santos-Griswold says she feels stronger and more confident now, with her body and mind aligned for Olympic timing rather than burned out before the biggest stage.

Why This Inspires

Santos-Griswold's journey shows that elite performance isn't just about what happens during training. It's also about what happens when you step away from it. Her dogs help her disconnect from the pressure and remember why she started skating in the first place.

"Both of my dogs are really pivotal in my career," she says. "They help me reset, mentally and emotionally."

Bear's energy at 13 amazes her. Santos-Griswold credits better nutrition and variety in his diet, provided partly through her Olympic sponsorships. She loves that food can be fun for her furry companions, just as finding joy outside competition has been essential for her own recovery.

The short track speed skating community is small and close-knit worldwide, which makes every victory sweeter and every setback more visible. Santos-Griswold learned early that showing vulnerability doesn't make you weak. Sometimes it makes you stronger.

Now she's ready to chase Olympic gold her way, with patience, perspective, and two loyal friends waiting at home.