By Marisa Dawson, Library Photos by Marisa Dawson, School Photos by Stacy Hawn
Ultramarathon runner Dion Leonard, his wife Lucja and their internationally famous dog Gobi made their first-ever stop in Nebraska on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 10 & 11, sharing the inspiring true story that captured hearts worldwide.
Leonard presented at the Bennington Public Library that evening at 6 p.m., following an appearance earlier in the day at Bennington Elementary School. He visited Stratford Elementary on Wednesday afternoon. The couple and Gobi were welcomed by a strong community turnout at both the elementary schools and the library.
In 2016, Australian-born Dion Leonard was competing in a brutal 155-mile stage race across China’s Gobi Desert when a small stray dog joined him on day two. The resilient pup, later named Gobi, kept pace for nearly 80 miles through the Tian Shan Mountains, massive sand dunes, yurt villages and the desert’s black sands. What began as an unlikely companionship during the race blossomed into a life-changing bond. After the event, Leonard promised to bring Gobi home to Scotland. But the dog went missing in a major Chinese city during the lengthy quarantine process required for international travel. A viral global campaign, fueled by strangers on the internet and famous personalities, helped track her down after months of searching. The pair were finally reunited, and Gobi now lives with the Leonards, traveling around the world telling their story.
Their story became the New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling memoir Finding Gobi, published in 24 languages. It has been featured on television around the world and inspired a Hollywood movie currently in production. Leonard noted during his visit that the film has faced delays due to studio changes but is hoped for a release in the back end of next year.
Leonard has adapted the original book for readers of all ages, including a chapter book for teens, a picture book for younger children and a seek-and-find edition.
During the presentations, Leonard engaged the crowds in a lighthearted moment when he asked how many tricks they thought Gobi knew. Guesses ranged from zero to more than 10. A video then played showing Gobi performing none of the commands, confirming the answer was zero, to everyone’s amusement. He also shared that even after coming home, Gobi retained her love for running and regularly joined the couple for 5- to 10-mile runs each day.
In an interview following the event, Leonard reflected on the visit: “Well, it’s awesome. I mean, myself and Lucja, my wife, grew up in a small country town in Australia, so we love visiting small country towns and rural areas because we’re connected with that ourselves.”
He added, “It’s great to be able to share the story anywhere that I can because I think it’s a story of hope and inspiration and kindness. And whether you’re a child or an adult, there’s something to connect with within the story of Gobi. And I love sharing it with kids as well.”
Leonard shared the ecstatic reactions of kids from his presentations. “When they see Gobi, they automatically have a smile on their face,” he recalled. “I take them through the journey of Gobi and they learn all about friendship, kindness, teamwork. They learn a little bit about the Gobi Desert in China and the process it was to bring Gobi home and the amount of people that put the effort in to help as well.” It is a heartwarming story of perseverance and kindness and as Leonard put it, “The real thing for me is that one act of kindness changes your life forever.”
Leonard, who overcame a rough childhood, emphasized the key message he hopes kids take away in addition to kindness and teamwork. “Never give up,” he said. “You know, I was told I was never going to make it in life and I never believed in that. I always wanted to prove people wrong. And that’s why I got into ultra running, I think… Don’t give up.”
He described the Bennington stop as a highlight on his tour, adding how amazing it was to see the community come together to hear their story. “I think it’s just awesome. Gobi puts a smile on people’s faces and with everything that’s in the news, especially over the last few days, I think it’s great that everyone can come together to just hear a loving, heartwarming story and put away the world for a little bit,” he shared.
Library staff echoed the positive impact. Director Lisa Flaxbeard noted surprise at details beyond the initial desert encounter: “I did listen to the book, so I knew the story, but I’m surprised that they don’t have a permanent residence, that they just travel from one place to the next.” She added that many people don’t realize how much more there is to Dion Leonard’s story, including Gobi’s disappearance and the global effort to bring her home.
Natalie Hartley was struck by the story’s reach. “I was surprised at how wide the story spread when they explained after the race… Gobi’s met the Queen of England and all these celebrities and everything. So it shows that that story resonates with every culture,” she said.
Johnna Bierman highlighted the value for young attendees and was excited to see how many people get involved with the library’s author visits. “It might be the only time in someone’s life they get access to an author for free. And it’s really important, especially for some of our young people,” she shared. Bierman added that two young girls who were in attendance at the library event are interested in training dogs for a living. “I just love that they have the opportunity to meet somebody who not only loves dogs and knows about having this big transformational moment with dogs, but also maybe they could be inspired to write their own story about dogs someday.”
Attendees included visitors from around Bennington and even as far as Sarpy County who connected personally with the tale after finding their own dog in the Arizona desert. One library staff member observed that some elementary students who heard the story at school excitedly shared it with their families, boosting evening attendance as they saw the presentation for a second time.
Following the Nebraska events, the family heads to Iowa and Michigan, marking states 36 and 37 on Gobi’s nationwide tour.
