Mental health is a major focus for Team USA’s Gymnastics team. Case in point, meet the four-year-old golden retriever Beacon, who is working hard at the Paris 2024 Olympics as a therapy dog.
Fully accredited, Beacon has traveled all the way to France with Team USA to help the gymnastics team (made up of stars like Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee, and Jade Carey) to keep the athletes calm company during training sessions and competitions alike. His owner, Tracey Callahan Molnar, told USA Today that Beacon “senses people’s stress and knows how to soothe them.” A very apt intuition when it comes to channeling the anxiety of athletes just before they take to the mat.
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In recent years, it has been realized that performance no longer relies solely on a trained physique, but also on a prepared mind. To this end, pet therapy offers a plethora of benefits to soothe the minds of competing athletes. According to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Washington, “petting an animal for ten minutes can help reduce levels of cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, as well as focus on the present moment.”
