The US national gymnastics team has started using therapy dogs in their training.
When the stars of the US national gymnastics team gathered at the end of June for the Olympic qualifiers in Minneapolis, the dog stole the most attention.
The four-year-old golden retriever Beacon was one of the therapy dogs brought to the qualifiers, with which the gymnasts could relax during the stressful qualifiers.
The good-natured and playful Beacon stood out, and the video of the dog playing with the athletes collected millions of views.
– Beacon is not the only therapy dog here, but he is one hundred percent the star of the show and literally the beacon of the project, the communications boss of the US gymnastics team Jill Geer said.
– Beacon likes other dogs a lot, but loves people. I think it’s good for relieving people’s stress, dog owner Tracey Callahan Molnar65, said.
The United States introduced therapy dogs to gymnasts in early 2023. They are part of a broader program that tries to support the mental health of American athletes, says Geer.
– Many have said that they feel much calmer in competitions after spending time with a therapy dog beforehand, says Geer.
In the Olympic qualifiers, Beacon was beaten by, for example, a top name in gymnastics Simone Bileswho has also spoken about the importance of mental health.
Biles will try to return as an Olympic gold medalist in Paris. He won four gold medals in Rio 2016, but it was worse in Tokyo.
Biles dramatically dropped out of the team competition in Japan due to mental health issues. He returned a few days later in the beam final to compete for an Olympic medal and took the bronze.
Biles suffered from the so-called twisties phenomenon, in which the athlete’s body does not understand its position during rotating movements. He wrote on his Instagram account that at times he felt as if the weight of the whole world was on his shoulders.
After a long break from competition, Biles returned as a title winner at the 2023 World Championships in Antwerp, when she won four world championships.
Biles begins her competitive career in the balance beam qualifying on Sunday. However, Beacon is not part of the cheerleading squad.
Callahan Molnar said a few days before the Olympics that the favorite dog will not travel to Paris due to logistical problems.
– Of course I’m disappointed, but treading new paths always comes with difficulties. That’s no reason to stop trying, Callahan Molnar wrote on Instagram.