Former Olympian Sophie McKinna has traded in her shot put for tennis balls, embarking on her “dream” career at an animal rescue center. McKinna, who hails from Bradwell near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, joined the Snetterton Dogs Trust Centre at the beginning of the year after a significant injury cut her athletic career short.
The six-time national shot put champion and Tokyo 2020 Olympian has found a new passion in animal rescue. Since starting at the center, she has adopted two dogs and is thrilled to be living out her second greatest passion—caring for animals. “Being a shot putter, people think I’m really big and tough, but my second biggest love outside of sport is animals, particularly dogs,” McKinna shared.
McKinna missed part of the 2023 season due to surgery for a serious elbow injury. During her recovery, she applied for the job at the dog rescue center, combining her love for animals with her desire for a meaningful new role.
Sophie McKinna, a former Olympian who recently joined the Snetterton Dogs Trust Centre, has discovered that her shot-putting skills have a surprising use in her new role. “We have a big paddock area out the back, and there have been a couple of times when I’ve overthrown and sent the tennis balls flying beyond the paddock area,” she said with a laugh. “The dogs look a bit bemused because they can’t reach them.”
McKinna, who transitioned to the animal rescue field after a serious elbow injury interrupted her athletic career, has had to adjust her powerful throws to better suit the dogs. Despite this challenge, she finds great joy in her new work, saying, “I have had to learn to ease my throws when I’m tossing tennis balls for the dogs, but I absolutely love it. I’m really living the dream.”
Currently, Snetterton Dogs Trust Centre is caring for 64 dogs, some of whom have been brought in due to financial, relationship, or family issues. McKinna emphasizes the importance of bringing dogs to a charity or center rather than abandoning them. “We care for all the dogs here—they are fed, walked, exercised, and trained every day until they find their forever home,” she added.
Since starting at the Dogs Trust, McKinna has adopted two dogs of her own, though she’s now taking a break from adopting while she trains her new puppy. “All of these dogs are fantastic and need a home,” she said. “Puppies are really cute and great, but they are super hard work. Kennels are wonderful and provide everything the dogs need, but nothing replaces a loving home.”