August 27, 2024, 3:11 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
It’s not just horses that will be performing at the 2024 Olympic Games – a dog called Beacon has also been making a name for himself in the run-up to the Games. It’s not only the exceptionally talented Simone Biles who is fond of the Golden Retriever. He also serves as an important symbol for mental health awareness.
Even before the 2024 Olympic Games began, many were against the use of animals for sporting events. However, this was mainly due to the less than animal-friendly handling of riding and dressage horses. But another four-legged friend is making headlines and sending positive signals: therapy dog Beacon, who supports the US gymnasts around super athlete Simone Biles.
Golden Retriever boosts morale for the US gymnastics team
Despite not traveling to the Olympic Games in Paris due to “logistical problems,” Beacon still captures all the attention. He and other therapy dogs took part in the pre-selections for the Olympics from June 27 to June 30, 2024, as reported by “USA Today.” Videos of Beacon playing with a ball on the floor exercise mat quickly went viral on social media.
Jill Geer, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer for USA Gymnastics, told USA Today, “There are several other dogs, but Beacon is 100 percent the star of the show. He is quite literally the ‘beacon’ of this program,” Geer explained, noting the dual significance of Beacon’s name. On the one hand, the name means “beacon” but can also be seen as a synonym for the Olympic torch.
The trained therapy dog supported the excited gymnasts during the Olympic trials and more. He also proved to be highly photogenic. After a “selfie” of Beacon and exceptional gymnast Simone Biles received 4,500 likes on Instagram (as of 6.8.2024), the golden retriever himself is already a star.
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How Beacon became the gymnasts’ therapy dog
Beacon was born in February 2020. His owner, Tracey Callahan Molnar, was a long-time rhythmic gymnastics coach and has worked with gymnasts for over 40 years. However, Beacon is now the second therapy dog she has trained. “I think he’s very good at recognizing stress in people. He does it with me, and I’ve seen him do it with other people,” Molnar told USA Today.
The US gymnasts have used therapy dogs since February 2023. Although some of those involved were initially skeptical, this has changed. Many gymnasts felt calmer when they went onto the competition floor and had cuddled with the dogs beforehand.
The use of therapy dogs is also just one part of a larger program to improve the health of athletes. This was initiated in 2021 by Simone Biles, who criticized the harsh training methods at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. The athlete, who was regarded as the world’s best gymnast, withdrew from the competition even though she was a strong contender for multiple medals1 Since then, the athlete has been campaigning for better conditions and mental health in competitive sports.