Gigi and Taryn Dickens

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The dog in the photo is Rosie, not the dog in the story, Rosie used to visit us on the farm I've spoken about Winter Paralympians who place a lot of reliance on her assistance dogs. Taryn Dickens is another. Her best mate is Gigi, a chocolate labrador. Taryn was in the Royal Australian Navy when, in her mid-30s, she started to lose her vision due to a degenerative condition, eventually being diagnosed with cone-rod dystrophy. Losing a faculty bit by bit would really prey on your mind. Struggling with an uncertain future, Taryn began to drink heavily and eventually checked herself into a mental health clinic. She only took up skiing in 2022 and her main events is biathlon which combines skiing and shooting. Gigi wakes Taryn when she has bad nightmares and becomes very excited when Taryn comes over the line at the end of a ski run. When some dogs are excited, their whole body wags from head to tail. Gigi is one of those. Edit: I forgot to say that Taryn skis with a guide in front of her. They must be very special people too - and very talented themselves to stay in front of a top athlete.