Throwback Thursday: Celebrating TWENTY YEARS!!

This year the AKC/USA World Team celebrates 20 years of international competition at the FCI Agility World Championship!

In honor of this huge milestone, we’re sharing a BIG Throwback Thursday. Check out some of the Team’s most loved memories from the last 20 years, and watch the Team USA Facebook Page for even more later today!

The first team, Switzerland 1996:

Karen Moreaux & Dallas
Nancy Gyes & Scud
Jane Simmons-Moake & Holly
Stuart Mah & Recce
Pati Hatfield (Mah) & Lily

Team Coach/Leader: Sharon Anderson

1996 Arena

The first Individual Gold Medal winner from the USA, Erin Schaefer with her Shetland Sheepdog, Jag — Germany 2002

2012 Team Bonding, Czech Republic

2004 opening ceremonies in Italy

A display of the Team’s competition bibs in the locker room — Austria 2009

2001 Maxi Team Gold Medal, Portugal

2006 Sightseeing in Switzerland (Yahoo, everyone remembered a rain jacket!)

Geri Hernandez and her border collie, Focus, warming up for their run at the 2008 AWC in Finland. Individually, this team placed fourth overall at their first ever World Championships.

Focus and Geri were team members again in 2009. Tragically, Focus passed away unexpectedly that year. Here, the team honors his memory and Geri’s loss during the opening ceremonies in Austria.

A goofy 2012 team photo in Czech Republic.

The victory lap: 2006 Individual Silver Medalists, Jennifer Crank and Guess — Switzerland

Coach Dan Dege takes a moment with the team at a practice in 2004.

8-time AKC/USA World Team Members, Karen Holik and Sizzle, at Sizzle’s last FCI Agility World Championships in 2011 — France

Large Dog Silver Medalists — Norway 2007

In 2008 (Finland), Team USA brought home two Individual Gold Medals: Marcus Topps and Juice became Large Dog Gold Medalists and Marcy Mantell and Wave became Small Dog Gold Medalists.