Retriever gold medalist Super Sue and handler Jerry Day had their day in the sun in 2001.

Super Sue's gold medal performance in the 2001 Great Outdoor Games truly was amazing, but what stands out in my mind was her "coming out" party at the Olympic Oval later that day.

Sue and her handler, Jerry Day, arrived at the Olympic Oval for the medal ceremony and nine-year-old Sue was so tuckered out from the competition that Jerry had to help her out of the car and carry her part of the way through the venue. There was no way they were going to miss the awards — that much was clear.

A packed grandstand of spectators who had just witnessed an impressive Final Round of Springboard was on hand and cheered wildly as Jerry and Super Sue took the awards podium on the Timber stage and the gold medal was placed around Sue's neck. Jerry bent down, gave Sue a big hug and told the whole crowd how much he loved her and how proud he was of her. I don't know which smile was bigger — Jerry's or Super Sue's.

After the ceremony was over, Jerry and Sue made their way through the venue, proudly displaying their medal. They were stopped every ten feet by admiring fans that just wanted a chance to pet Sue and shake Jerry's hand. The bond between handler and retriever is so important to success in Retriever Trials and it was clear to anyone watching Jerry and Super Sue that day that they are a team beyond compare.