The best therapist has fur and four legs indeed! Amid the dazzling performances and fierce competition of the 2024 Paris Olympics, a hero has emerged to capture the hearts of fans worldwide. Beacon, a four-year-old golden retriever, has become an invaluable member of the USA Gymnastics team. The mental well-being of athletes has indeed been one of the major areas of focus for Team USA. And standing in a century where we are dealing with such a fast-paced world and athletes are stuck in this competitive sphere, concentrating on just physical well-being might turn out to be insufficient. Here is where Beacon makes his heroic entry and we have to say, it’s pawsome.

Beacon became a part of the USA’s Olympic team from the US Olympic Trials. And from the very first day he was introduced to the team he has been a constant source of comfort and encouragement for the gymnasts. Beacon’s role goes way beyond the conventional as his presence throws light on the critical importance of mental health in high-stakes sports. Moreover, the little one’s inclusion also highlighted how often peak performance in sports is not solely dependent on physical prowess but also on an athlete’s mental health.

Beacon truly entered the USA Gymnastics team as a ‘beacon’ of light and love. Holding the hands of his handler, Tracey Callahan Molnar Beacon stood by the US team as they fought for their berths in the Paris Olympics. Molnar herself has served the role of a gymnastics coach before and thus knows how mental calmness becomes a priority in such stressful times. The world got a glimpse of Beacon at the US Olympic Trials, and his guest appearance made fans go gaga over the fuzzball. 

Carrying the title of the ‘Goodest boy’ of USA’s Artistic Gymnastics team, Beacon attended the Olympic trials in Minneapolis in the last week of June wagging his tail. And his presence did not only reflect on the scores of the athletes but also won millions of hearts online. USAG’s first therapy dog has also received another title for performing the role of a stress buster like a perfectionist. His handler, Molnar shared, “One of the gymnasts suggested [Beacon] should be the CHO… Chief Happiness Officer”.

Molnar also stated that Beacon possesses an innate ability to “sense people’s stress and knows how to soothe them”. And such a quality has turned out to be an essential asset for athletes like Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee, and Jade Carey as they prepare for their routines. Beacon was brought to the USAG from Michigan by Molnar herself. When the team first met Beacon, the little retriever was just an eight-year-old pupster. 

The vice president of the rhythmic gymnastics program at USA Gymnastics, Caroline Hunt first thought of introducing pet therapy for USAG and shared the idea with Molnar. While many were unsure about how the introduction of the new member would play out for the team, Beacon did prove his worth in just a few days. 

After Beacon accompanied Team USA in the trials, fans too alongside the team wanted him to accompany the team to Paris. However, the USA team representative also stated, “We are looking into if he can go to Paris. As you can imagine, it’s a bit complicated”. Unfortunately, Beacon could not accompany the athletes to Paris. However, the way the USA Artistic Gymnastics Team has performed this year, Beacon must be feeling very proud.

How Beacon, the therapy dog has become the hero doing wonders in boosting Team USA’s gymnasts?

Beacon has not only helped the athletes to perform better, but has also helped gymnasts to overcome mental stress. During the US Olympic Trials, two phenomenal gymnasts succumbed to injuries that put a stop to their Paris quest. Shilese Jones during warm-up sessions injured her knee. On the other hand, Kayla DiCello faced a setback because of an Achilles injury. But amid such heartbreaking setbacks, Beacon always came to the rescue. Jones herself stated about Beacon, “I feel like in a way, it blocks out reality. And sometimes that’s good for us, so we don’t overthink things. It distracts me from the reality of pain.”

Pet therapy, as supported by research from the University of Washington, can significantly reduce cortisol levels (stress hormone) and help individuals focus on the present moment. Thus, for athletes, it often turns out to be of major help when they need to focus ardently amid all the stress and anxiety. Molnar also reflected on the experience of the young gymnasts. She revealed, “…gymnasts talk about how much better they felt, how much calmer they felt going onto the competition floor, and they credited being able to spend time with the therapy dogs in advance of the competition.”

Introducing pet therapy is indeed one of the best steps taken by the authorities for the athletes. The world is now already aware of what a huge toll mental illness can take an athlete from the major setback of Simone Biles in the Tokyo Olympics. Not only Biles, but several other athletes too have spoken about mental health. Thus, fans would surely be relieved to know that Beacon is now there with Team USA and make sure that their mental well-being is prioritized.