The most brilliant gymnast of the last decades, Simone Biles, was forced to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics to protect her mental health. Behind her decision was a widely known and studied phenomenon in Sports Psychology: psychological pressure or suffocation under pressure. A factor that deteriorates performance and is the result, in most cases, of the effort that the individual is making to achieve extraordinary results. Now, the most fabulous gymnast of the 21st century has entered the competition in her third Olympic Games leaving unbeatable feelings. But she has an aid that few knew about until now: Beacon.
He is undoubtedly the star of the delegation but Beacon is not your average dog, he is a genius dog who provides therapy and support to gymnasts from all over the United States.who met in Minneapolis from June 27-30 for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials.
This A four-year-old golden retriever from California became an internet sensation after videos and photos of him hugging and playing with athletes surfaced went viral on social media last month. While several other dogs took part in the canine therapy sessions for the gymnastics trials, it was Beacon, with her big brown eyes and fluffy fur, who has gained the most popularity.
“Beacon is not the only dog,” Jill Geer, director of communications and marketing for USA Gymnasts, told USA TODAY. “There are other dogs, but Beacon is, without a doubt, the star of the show. He’s literally the beacon of this program.”
“I joke that Beacon needs an agent, because there are more requests for him than any other athlete,” Geer added.
Beacon was born in February 2020 in Michigan and adopted when he was 8 weeks old by Tracey Callahan Molnar, 65, a former rhythmic gymnastics coach, who drove from Pasadena, California, during the peak of COVID-19 to pick him up.
Speaking to USA TODAY by phone from Pasadena, Molnar said Beacon is the second golden retriever she has adopted and explained that she and her late husband previously had a dog named Tulsa, who passed away in 2019. She said she thought about adopting a rescue dog in California, as well as other breeders in the state, but ultimately went back to the same breeder who raised Tulsa. Transporting Beacon from Michigan to California amid COVID-19 shutdowns was a challenge, but Molnar successfully managed it and was able to bring him home.
Beacon’s journey as a therapy dog
Molnar has long been an advocate of volunteering, as she puts it. When Tulsa was alive, Molnar had registered him as a therapy dog and the animal had provided pet therapy for nearly six and a half years.
“After losing Tulsa, in addition to missing Tulsa, I really missed providing pet therapy,” Molnar said. “I’m a big proponent of volunteering and have done so for many years in different capacities and it’s something I hope to continue to do.”
When Molnar acquired Beacon, she hoped he would also enjoy being a therapy dog because it’s not something you can force on a pet.
“But luckily, even more than Tulsa, he’s drawn to people,” Molnar said of Beacon. “He’s a dog person, but he loves people. I think he’s really good at sensing stress in people. He does it with me, and I’ve seen him do it with other people.”
“I’d say he was really made for this”Molnar added.
Molnar, who has been associated with USA Gymnastics for more than 40 years, enjoys a good relationship with Caroline Hunt, vice president of USA Gymnastics’ rhythmic gymnastics program, whom she has known since they were children. Molnar said Hunt, a former professional athlete, had been thinking about introducing a pet therapy program to her department after being inspired by an event she attended a few years ago.
The therapy dog program, pioneered by Hunt, began in February 2023 during a rhythmic gymnastics program in Indianapolis.
At the USA Gymnastics Championships in Fort Worth, Texas, this summer, about 16 dogs of different breeds, colors and sizes participated in the therapy program, each coming on different shifts and days, according to Geer. Geer explained that the pet therapy program was introduced as part of a broader program to support athletes and their physical and mental health.
Although efforts were made to bring Beacon to Paris, the plans ultimately failed due to logistical problems.
The role of Beacon is to provide comfort and relaxation to gymnasts in times of stress, especially before competitions. His ability to detect stress and reach out to people makes him ideal for the job. “I feel like it kind of blocks out reality, and sometimes that’s good for us, so we don’t think about things too much. It distracts me from the reality of the pain,” gymnast Shilese Jones told The Times.
Molnar, who has been associated with USA Gymnastics for more than 40 years, commented on Beacon’s positive impact: “I know that Beacon and I are doing important work. How wonderful it is to have the opportunity to do this and love what we do. I am extremely proud of him and look forward to continuing to support him in Paris and beyond.”
Beacon’s Tastes
While Beacon loves all kinds of food, Molnar says that ice creams made with different fruits, such as blueberries, watermelon, pumpkin and chia seeds, liquid probiotics or plain Greek yogurt, which he usually enjoys after breakfast are his favorite treat.
As for her favorite activity, it is swimming. All types of swimming. Swimming at the beach, in the ocean, in the pool. She loves being in the water, according to Molnar.
His popularity It is so popular that she has an Instagram account with more than 24 thousand followers. On his social media, there are photos and videos of him alongside various athletes and competitions in which he was present as part of the American staff.