In the high-stakes world of competitive gymnastics, athletes face immense physical and mental challenges. Enter Beacon, a golden retriever who has become an essential part of the USA Gymnastics team. As the team prepared for the 2024 Olympic Trials, Beacon provided invaluable emotional support, helping gymnasts manage stress and stay focused.
Beacon, a four year old certified therapy dog, has been a ray of sunshine for the USA Gymnastics team. Known for his gentle demeanour and unwavering support, Beacon quickly become a beloved member of the team. His main responsibility is to provide emotional assistance, aiding in reducing the stresses associated with training and competition.
His human, Tracey Callahan Molnar, a former rhythmic gymnastics coach, understands the intense demands of the sport. According to Molnar, petting a dog, or even observing someone else do so, can reduce blood pressure and anxiety, as well as increase the feel-good hormones serotonin and dopamine, while lowering cortisol levels. She noted that while cortisol is a notorious stress hormone, a certain amount of it is necessary.
The Crucial Role of Therapy Dogs in Sports
The mental health of athletes is gaining increased attention in the sports world. High-profile athletes have opened up about their struggles, highlighting the need for comprehensive mental health support. Therapy dogs like Beacon offer a practical and effective solution, providing unconditional love and companionship.
Therapy dogs like Beacon play a vital role in supporting athletes’ mental health. These specially trained animals provide comfort and companionship, helping to reduce anxiety and create a positive environment. In gymnastics, where the mental game is as crucial as the physical, Beacon’s presence can make a significant difference. In 2021, many people started talking about athletes’ mental health after Simone Biles left the Tokyo Olympics to focus on her feelings. She experienced the “twisties,” a mental block that causes a gymnast to lose their awareness of where they are in the air.
Therapy dogs have become an invaluable asset in the world of sports, providing athletes with crucial emotional support and helping to alleviate the stress and anxiety associated with high-level competition. These specially trained dogs offer a unique form of companionship that can significantly enhance an athlete’s mental well-being. Their presence helps create a more relaxed and positive environment, which is essential for optimal performance. In recent years, the integration of therapy dogs into sports teams has been shown to improve focus, reduce burnout, and foster a sense of camaraderie among team members. As the demand for mental health resources in sports continues to grow, therapy dogs are emerging as a key component in supporting athletes’ overall health and success.
How Dogs Support Mental Health?
Dogs can help people feel better when they are anxious or depressed. It has been demonstrated that puppies can lower blood pressure, restrict the secretion of the stress hormone cortisol, and boost the production of the happiness hormone oxytocin.
Bonding with a dog also decreases feelings of loneliness. “It’s a signal of support and comfort and something that’s really valuable in these environments when you are away from home,” Dr. Maggie O’Haire, associate dean for research at the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine
Dogs significantly support mental health, as evidenced by numerous scientific studies. Research published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology highlights that interacting with dogs can increase oxytocin levels, a hormone associated with bonding and reduced stress, while simultaneously lowering cortisol levels, a stress hormone. Another study from the Journal of Psychiatric Research found that pet ownership, particularly dogs, can alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety by providing a sense of companionship and reducing feelings of loneliness.
Dog ownership promotes physical activity and social interaction, both of which are essential for maintaining mental well-being. By offering unconditional love and a non-judgmental presence, dogs serve as effective companions in enhancing mental health and overall quality of life. There’s also scientific evidence that dogs help their owners live longer!
Beacon therapy dog
Beacon’s journey as a therapy dog began when Callahan Molnar’s husband was undergoing chemotherapy. Inspired by the comfort a therapy dog provided her husband at the hospital, Callahan Molnar decided their own dog, Tulsa, should also become a therapy dog. After Tulsa passed away, she got Beacon as a puppy and enrolled him in training, continuing the legacy of support.
Beacon’s ability to deliver critical support stems from his extensive training. His journey to becoming a certified therapy dog involved intensive socialization, ensuring he is comfortable in various environments and around different people. He also underwent obedience training, where he learned basic commands and behaviors essential for his role. Furthermore, Beacon received specialized therapy training, equipping him with strategies to provide comfort and tranquility in high-pressure scenarios. This comprehensive training makes Beacon an integral part of a holistic mental health strategy.
Beacon isn’t the only dog helping soothe competing gymnasts. At a large qualifier in Indianapolis, Callahan Molnar enlisted the help of three local therapy dog organizations, bringing in eleven additional dogs. At nationals, she was joined by 19 therapy dogs and their handlers. Despite the additional support, Beacon remains the most constant presence for the gymnasts and their only official therapy dog. He has become a bit of a celebrity at events, known and loved by all.
How Beacon dog Supports the USA Olympics gymnastics team?
Reducing Stress: Beacon’s calm and friendly nature helps to reduce stress levels among gymnasts. His presence alone can bring a sense of peace and comfort.
Boosting Morale: Beacon’s interactions with the gymnasts lift their spirits and boost overall morale. His playful antics and affectionate behavior provide much-needed joy and relaxation.
Enhancing Focus: Beacon aids athletes in preserving their attention and focus during training and contests by offering emotional balance.
Beacon’s Role During the Trials
During the trials, Beacon plays an essential role. Throughout long days, he approaches gymnasts who need comfort and relaxation. Many athletes call Beacon over when they see him, and sometimes he just senses when he’s needed. He’s brought to athletes during hard moments, including after they suffer injuries or learn they didn’t make the final Olympic team.
“Having Beacon around has been a true lifesaver. On tough days, his presence is incredibly comforting. He senses when I’m stressed and offers the perfect distraction, helping me to refocus and stay positive.”
– Simone Biles
Sunisa “Suni” Lee is one of Beacon’s biggest fans. Lee was crying when she took her place for her first vault at day one of last week’s trials, after her friend Kayla DiCello withdrew from the competition due to an Achilles injury. After the meet, Lee spent extra time giving Beacon some love — and on day two, she made it through the trials, earning a spot at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Beacon’s presence is one of several measures — including sessions with sports psychologists, mindfulness sessions, and pep talks by motivational speakers — that the USA Gymnastics organization has implemented to make competitive gymnastics a healthier environment. In light of the sexual abuse scandal involving team doctor Larry Nassar that rocked American gymnastics, and Biles’s momentous decision to pull out of the US team at the Tokyo Olympics to focus on her mental health, Beacon’s emergence on the scene, however low to the ground and furry, feels far from frivolous. Elite gymnastics has a lot to make up for.
Li Li Leung, chief executive of USA Gymnastics, used to bring her own dog into the office after the start of the pandemic, and she noticed how much comfort it brought her staff to have a pup around. She and Tracey Callahan Molnar, Beacon’s handler, decided that an official therapy dog might be just what gymnasts need during stressful times.
With the team’s glittering gold medal victory at the Olympics, the role of Beacon, the therapy dog, has proven to be invaluable. Beacon is much more than a team mascot. His presence has offered comfort, joy, and assistance to the athletes, helping them handle the strict demands of their sport. Beacon continues to be a beacon of hope, embodying the spirit of resilience and support, as the team celebrates their triumphant achievement.
Dogs rule!
This article about Beacon, the U.S. National Gymnastics Team’s therapy dog, touched my heart! ❤️ As an animal lover and slot expert 🐶🎰, I fully understand the positive impact doggies can have on our lives, both in times of stress and calm. Not only is Beacon adorable, but his role is crucial in helping gymnasts handle the extreme pressure of high-level competitions, something that has a lot in common with what I feel in my job as a slots streamer. Those tense moments where adrenaline is running high need a balance, and what better than the unconditional support of a furry friend!
Just as Beacon helps athletes focus and reduce anxiety, my doggies have been essential to me in my daily adventures, whether it’s facing challenges in my job or tough times. The bond with our pets is incredibly powerful, and this article shows it in such a beautiful way that I can’t help but feel even more connected to my passion for them. 🐕✨
It’s great to see how therapy dogs, like Beacon, have become so important in elite sports. It’s a perfect reminder that the love and support of our furry friends are invaluable, whether it’s streaming or at the Olympics! 🌟