Athletes Training for the Tokyo Summer Olympics and Paralympics Pause to Cuddle Rescue Pets

Even when you are training for the Tokyo Summer Olympics, there's time for puppies — especially on National Pet Day

Olympians with rescue pets
Photo: Courtesy NBC Olympics
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Olympians with rescue pets
Courtesy NBC Olympics

There's always time for puppies, even if you are training for this year's Tokyo Summer Olympics and Paralympics. A dozen world-class athletes working hard to make it into the Olympic and Paralympic Games took a break from their busy schedules to pose with adoptable puppies from Paw Works. The results are a perfect way to celebrate April 11th's National Pet Day. Click on to see why these pictures get a gold medal in adorableness.

To learn more about all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, visit TeamUSA.org. Watch the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics this summer on NBC.

RYAN LOCHTE

Lochte is a swimmer and four-time Olympian, competing in 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016. He has won 12 Olympic medals, including 6 gold medals.

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A'JA WILSON

Olympians with rescue pets
Courtesy NBC Olympics

Wilson is a power forward on the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces and is part of the USA Basketball Women's National Team, which won the most recent FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in 2018.

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JESSICA LONG

Olympians with rescue pets
Courtesy NBC Olympics

Long is the second-most decorated Paralympian in U.S. History. The swimmer has competed in four Paralympic Games and has won 23 Olympics medals, including 13 gold medals.

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NOAH LYLES

Olympians with rescue pets
Courtesy NBC Olympics

Lyles is a world champion sprinter, taking home the gold in the 200-meter dash and the 100-meter relay at the 2019 World Athletics Championships. Now, he is working to bring that speed and success to the Toyko Summer Olympics.

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YUL MOLDAUER

Olympians with rescue pets
Courtesy NBC Olympics

Moldauer is a gymnast specializing in artistic gymnastics training to be part of the Tokyo Summer Olympics, which would be his first Olympic Games.

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ALLYSON FELIX

Olympians with rescue pets
Courtesy NBC Olympics

Felix is an Olympic sprinter with a winning record. She is a four-time Olympian with nine Olympic medals, including 6 gold medals.

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KELLEY O'HARA

Olympians with rescue pets
Courtesy NBC Olympics

O'Hara, currently a defender for the Washington Spirit, is a two-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist. The soccer star won gold with the U.S. Women's Soccer Team at the 2012 London Olympics.

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VASHTI CUNNINGHAM

Olympians with rescue pets
Courtesy NBC Olympics

Cunningham is a high jumper who competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics and is now training to return to the Tokyo Summer Olympics on Team USA.

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BROOKE RABOUTOU

Olympians with rescue pets
Courtesy NBC Olympics

The daughter of world cup champion climbers Robyn Erbesfield-Raboutou and Didier Raboutou, Raboutou is a sport climber working to make her own mark at the Tokyo Summer Games.

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MORGAN HURD

Olympians with rescue pets
Courtesy NBC Olympics

Gymnast Hurd has plenty of experience winning big at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, and now she is working towards a Tokyo Summer Olympics victory.

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SAKURA KOKUMAI

Olympians with rescue pets
Courtesy NBC Olympics

Kokumai is a well-decorated member of the USA Karate National Team and is preparing for her first Olympic Games after a gold medal win at the 2019 Pan American Games.

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HUNTER WOODHALL

Olympians with rescue pets
Courtesy NBC Olympics

Woodhall is a sprinter training to join his second Paralympic Games. He won two medals at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, a silver in the 200-meter dash and a bronze in the 400-meter dash.

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