Rio medallist Katy Marchant meets pup named after her – who needs new home

Team GB Olympic bronze medallist track sprinter Katy Marchant has met a stray puppy who has been named after her – and is trying to help find her four-legged namesake a new home.

Marchant, who comes from Barwick-in-Elmet in West Yorkshire, visited five-month old Labrador cross Katy at the Dogs’ Trust’s re-homing centre in Leeds and even took her for a country walk.

The dog was found as a stray in Bradford last month at the same time as Marchant and her fellow Team GB track cyclists were competing in Rio, where the 23-year-old won bronze in the individual sprint.

She said: “It’s great to be back in Leeds and I was so excited to hear I’d had a pup named after me! She is absolutely stunning. My dream has come true and I hope her dream of a forever family comes true very soon.”

Amanda Sands, manager of Dogs Trust Leeds, wants to find the pup a permanent home where she will receive the attention she needs.

“It was so exciting to welcome Katy to the centre so soon after the Olympics and she loved playing with her puppy namesake.

“As any athlete will tell you, training is key to success and that’s certainly the case for our four-legged Katy. She will need all her training with being so young but she will be a lovely addition to any active family.”

Dogs Trust Leeds can be reached on 0300 303 0292 while other dogs available for adoption can be seen on www.dogstrust.co.uk.