The US women’s gymnastics team has regained their global dominance, three years after accepting a team silver at the Tokyo Olympics. The team, comprised of Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera, achieved this success, finishing the Olympics with eight medals in total. This impressive accomplishment is all the more noteworthy given that it was achieved by the oldest US Olympics team in the last 72 years, aptly nicknamed the ‘Golden Girls’.
Their soaring performance throughout the past week in Paris might have been enhanced by the pleasure they got from the local French pastries, an enthusiasm that Biles didn’t shy away from sharing on social media. However, one contributing factor to their composure was Beacon, a four-year-old golden retriever. Beacon, who provides emotional support and has spent the last year with America’s leading gymnasts, is aimed at maintaining their serotonin levels and stress under control.
Located in the sunny city of Pasadena, California, Beacon was present earlier this summer to help alleviate the anxiety of athletes and coaches at the US Olympic trials in Minneapolis. He, along with other local dogs, was tasked with helping soothe the nervous bunch of hopefuls awaiting their performance turn. He remained there for those athletes who weren’t chosen to participate in Paris.
With his fluffy caramel-coloured fur, expressive eyes reminiscent of Leonard Cohen’s soulful gaze, and an official badge that labels him the ‘Goodest Boy’, Beacon has attained star status among both gymnastics and dog aficionados. The largely unrecognised hero of the world-conquering US women’s gymnastics team is indeed, a very good boy.
The radiant dog, Beacon, is noted to have had an encounter with Simone Biles, which sparked excitement among her followers. Suni Lee, the winner of the all-around at the Tokyo Olympics, shared an image of her with Beacon, immediately elevating the dog to celebrity status. Thanks to an astounding score of 14/10 awarded by @WeRateDogs, Beacon has gained quite a reputation, outdoing the Room Rater of the Covid era on Twitter.
Not just a crowd-pleaser, Beacon is a crucial element of the long-anticipated mental health plan by USA Gymnastics, which involves therapeutic animals, mindfulness sessions, and a therapy team on standby for the athletes. Given the Larry Nassar scandal that shook USA gymnastics to its core and Simone Biles’ intended step back from the Tokyo Olympics to prioritise her mental wellbeing, Beacon’s entry onto the scene couldn’t be seen as trivial. The world of elite gymnastics has much to compensate for.
The ex-rhythmic gymnastics coach, Tracey Callahan Molnar, accompanies Beacon. Beacon’s role extends beyond being a fluffy companion the athletes can cuddle, as he has a keen, empathetic intuition. According to Molnar’s interview with ESPN, he can sense stress and gravitates towards those who need comfort.
He had a calming presence during the tumultuous Olympic trials, marked by severe injuries to pre-selected team members Shilese Jones, Skye Blakely, and Kayla DiCello. Beacon remained available and comforting to those who needed him, spending approximately 40 minutes with the team. Molnar arranges for a pack of local dogs to visit the athletes when travelling, and in his downtime, Beacon offers his comforting services at a nearby hospital in their hometown of Pasadena.
Molnar’s golden retriever, Beacon, is her second after Tulsa. She and her late spouse had welcomed Tulsa into their home, and he served as a therapy animal until he passed away in 2019. Molnar ventured from California to Michigan, the same location she got Tulsa, during a particularly difficult period of the pandemic.
Beacon, as per all available evidence, is very much his own individual. Molnar hands out a double-sided business card on Beacon’s behalf during events. The card reveals that he enjoys activities like swimming and trekking, while having a distinct disliking for celery. Additionally, it bears the web address for Beacon’s personal Instagram profile, featuring his image in a Team USA fleece uniform, and giving a glimpse of his personal style when he is not on duty.
Beacon seems to have a laid-back attitude towards sunglasses and Halloween attire. He seems to show a partiality for chewable toys and vividly coloured bandanas tied around his neck. Although no formal book or podcast deal has been declared, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, roughly equivalent to 28 dog years, are in the distant future. – Guardian.