The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris have captivated audiences around the globe, showcasing incredible athletes and historic moments. In the USA, the women’s gymnastics team’s triumphant “redemption tour” brought home the gold, with Simone Biles becoming the most-decorated US Olympic gymnast ever.
This achievement was supported by an unexpected yet crucial team member: a therapy dog named Beacon.
Beacon, a four-year-old golden retriever, is USA Gymnastics’ first therapy dog. He played a key role in keeping the athletes calm during the high-pressure Olympic trials.
Adopted as a puppy in 2020 by Tracey Callahan Molnar, Beacon’s journey began after Molnar’s previous dog, Tulsa, passed away. Molnar noticed Beacon’s affinity for people and saw his potential as a therapy dog. Her friend Caroline Hunt, vice president of the rhythmic gymnastics program at USA Gymnastics, was contemplating a pet therapy program for the team. Thus, the therapy dog program was launched in February 2023 in Indianapolis, overcoming initial skepticism and proving beneficial for the athletes’ mental health.
“They saw the benefit,” Molnar shared with USA Today. “They heard their daughters, or their 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.”
Beacon gained national attention during the Olympic trials in June, where he and other therapy dogs provided comfort to gymnasts and coaches. Spending time with therapy dogs like Beacon reduces stress and anxiety, as Molnar explained, Beacon “absorbs the stress” of those who seek his comfort.
“I watch the women and if they’re animated when they see him, I’ll walk toward them,” Molnar told ESPN. “Tonight, some called him over or came to him on their own… He picks up on the stress and will pull to that person immediately.”
Molnar noted that Beacon was exhausted after a day of comforting the gymnasts but felt the effort was worthwhile: “I think we did important work. It was a rough night for some of the gymnasts, and I think Beacon helped celebrate the good stuff and be there and give support for the challenges.”
The introduction of the therapy dog program aligns with an increasing focus on the mental health of Olympic athletes, particularly gymnasts. Gymnastics is mentally taxing and many gymnasts are young teenage girls who have faced emotional and verbal abuse from coaches. Recently, athletes and coaches have prioritized mental wellness, inspired by figures like Simone Biles, who withdrew from most events at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 due to a mental block known as the “twisties.”
“Over the last several years, our athletes have consistently told us that what they would like more of is mental health support, as well as nutritional support,” said Jill Geer, USAG’s chief communications and marketing officer, to USA Today.
“They’ve turned things around entirely and now they are clearly thinking, ‘What does the athlete need?’ and it’s so nice,” three-time Olympian and coach Sam Mikulak told the New York Times.
Since the Olympic trials, Beacon has become a symbol of the evolving attitudes in the sport, with photos and videos of him comforting gymnasts going viral. While there are other therapy dogs in the program, Beacon has become the standout star.
“There are several other dogs, but Beacon is 100% the star of the show. He is literally the Beacon of this program,” Geer said. “I joke that Beacon needs an agent because there are more requests for Beacon than just about any other athlete out there.”
Molnar shared that one gymnast suggested Beacon’s title be CHO, “Chief Happiness Officer,” reflecting his significant impact.
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Despite his popularity, Beacon couldn’t travel to Paris with Team USA due to logistical challenges. Molnar posted on Instagram that she and Beacon would be “cheering our Olympians on from California.”
Beacon’s work is truly amazing, playing a vital role in keeping the gymnasts calm and focused, contributing to Team USA’s success.