The U.S. Gymnastics' Therapy Dog, is Here to Brighten the Mood
Every event inevitably makes elite athletes feel stressed and anxious, as the stakes are high and the pressure is always on—years of preparation lead to a brief appearance that will determine their future. For the U.S. gymnasts who competed at the Olympic Trials last weekend, it meant securing a spot in the national team for Paris 2024. However, this time, they didn't have to go through the rollercoaster of emotions alone; Beacon was there to help.
Beacon, the U.S. Gymnastic Therapy Dog (USA Gymnastics)
He is US Gymnastics' first therapy dog, a 4-year-old golden retriever who now travels to every important meet and proudly carries the title of "Goodest Boy." He has been working alongside his handler, Tracey Callahan Molnar, for over a year to comfort and reassure athletes and coaches at every major event.
Beacon's incorporation was one of the efforts implemented by Li Li Leung, the US Gymnastics chief officer, to support the athletes' mental and emotional well-being. In the wake of sharing their experiences of enduring abuses and mistreatment within the organization, gymnasts have also become more vocal about their mental health struggles. For instance, Simone Biles withdrew from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to a mental block that prevented her from performing at her best. When Leung took over in 2019, she realized systemic changes were necessary to create a safe space for everyone.
Suni Lee and Beacon pose for a photo (@Sunisalee/ Instagram)
“There’s no question that there was a lesson learned from Tokyo in terms of mental wellness being so critically important,” she said, “but if we just launch a therapy dog program, OK, great, you have a nice, cute fuzzy dog to pet. But it doesn’t mean anything unless you have everything else in place.”
With that in mind, she has implemented several other initiatives that focus on the well-being of the athletes, including covering fees for therapy sessions and having mental health providers on-site at every event. Still, none of them compare to the immediate relief of spending time with Beacon.
“Science shows petting a dog, or even watching someone pet a dog, can lower blood pressure and anxiety, help increase the feel-good hormones serotonin and dopamine, and lower cortisol levels, Callahan Molnar said.”
During the 2024 Trials, his presence was especially valuable, as two of the top prospects of the night, Skye Blakely and Kayla DiCello, had to withdraw from respective Achilles injuries.
While Beacon was the first service dog to join the team officially, Tracey Callahan Molnar has started recruiting other local service dogs at every event so everyone can have a therapeutic encounter. However, Beacon has already captured everyone's heart, and they immediately fall in love with him. As Shilese Jones recounted when she skipped a bathroom break to spend quality time with him, "Forget the bathroom, is Beacon in there?" she said. "I feel like he kind of blocks out reality and sometimes that's good for us so we don't overthink things."
This month, the US Swim team also requested therapy dogs at their Olympic trials in Indianapolis, with more than 60 local furry friends accompanying them on a high-pressured evening. With moments like these happening more often, the conversation around mental health within sports feels hopeful, as slowly but surely, changes are being implemented to ensure the athletes' needs are adequately taken care of.
For the US Gymnastics team, Beacon represents a shining light illuminating a path ahead that prioritizes their well-being and leaves the dark times behind, one belly rub at a time.