Will This Golden Help Bring Home the Gold?

Of course, it makes perfect sense! A highly stressful job that’s both physically demanding and emotionally gruelling. We’re not talking firefighters, paramedics, emergency room staff, or even soldiers. We’re talking about elite gymnasts who have trained for years and are about to head off to Paris to compete against the best of the best. All the while knowing their country is watching, waiting, and counting on them to win. No pressure, right?

Naturally, stress levels for these young competitors will be going through the roof in the days leading up to the main event and that’s why travelling with a therapy dog named Beacon makes so much sense for this year’s US Olympic Gymnastic team.

Beacon? Quelle surprise! Qui est Beacon? (Well, we are talking Paris…)

For Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey and Hezly Rivera – the gymnasts chosen to head off to the Paris games – this four-year-old Golden Lab is their go-to for comfort when the pressures peak and muscle strain from countless practice sessions results. I mean, what better break from it all than a cuddle from a pooch who’s crushing over you regardless of how you place competition-wise?

Per Beacon’s handler, he acts as an “emotional sponge” to help alleviate some of the pressure felt by these young athletes. “Therapy dogs absorb the stress of the people they’re relieving the stress off of.” So, it's no surprise that even though Beacon’s not completing complex floor routines or struggling with the uneven bars, he’s seriously bushed by the end of the day.

Now this furry, four-legged secret weapon would have remained somewhat in the background had gymnast Sunisa Lee not posted “thank god for Beacon” on her Instagram account accompanied by a picture of her getting cozy with the handsome hunk. Of course, once the world saw his beaming face and “staff” badge, it all went viral with over 220,000 thousand “likes”. Yes, the proverbial cat was out of the bag.

Without question, being named the “first official therapy dog” for the USA Gymnastics organization has its perks. For this good boy, those perks include his own Instagram account with almost 19,000 followers and several cameo appearances on the @USAgymnastics X (formerly Twitter) account. With more likely to materialize as we near the games.

Want to get in on some of Beacon’s good vibes? His goldendogbeacon Instagram account has over 3,700 posts to choose from. Videos, stills… they’re all Golden!

Now, of course, to see if that translates into similar medals down the line!