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Beacon the Gymnastics Therapy Dog Cheered on Team USA From Afar
The men and women of the Team USA gymnastics team wrapped up an incredible run at the Paris Olympics today. Their final medal count: 10. And that success is due in part to their four-legged good luck charm, a fur-friend who provided essential emotional support this past year as they prepared for the big event.
Yes, we’re talking about Beacon the gymnastics therapy dog, who became a superstar when he appeared at the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials in Minneapolis to lend a supporting paw. But the golden retriever’s story started several years ago when he was adopted as a puppy by Tracey Callahan Molnar.
Tracey, who has a passion for volunteering, began her journey in pet therapy with her dog Tulsa, who has since passed away. Tracey and her husband noticed how much joy Tulsa brought to people, and how much joy he seemed to get from working with people. She says, “We acknowledged that he would make a great therapy dog, but we didn’t really know everything that was involved.”
When her husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he underwent major surgery and received chemotherapy at a cancer center. Tracey explains, “While he received treatments on most days, there were therapy dogs at the cancer center. We had built-in pet therapy with Tulsa at home, but to have that pet therapy while he was going through the actual treatment, I could see and feel what it did for him.
“We both said at that point, ‘We need to follow through on this and do this with Tulsa.’” Tracey continues, “I lost my husband to cancer. And I really pursued pet therapy with Tulsa to celebrate and honor my late husband’s life.”
Tracey adopted Beacon as a puppy in 2020. She wasn’t going to force him into pet therapy, but she missed volunteering after losing Tulsa. When Beacon got old enough, he proved that he loved people and was clearly cut out for pet therapy, so he began working with Tracey through Pet Partners. Tracey says, “I have to say when he is with people and getting their love and giving his love, I think he’s really living his best life.”
Then Tracey and Beacon began working with Team USA. As a former gymnast, it’s a natural partnership. Tracey explains, “I was a gymnast, mostly in artistic gymnastics, but I competed in rhythmic gymnastics for a couple of years. That ended up branching into my teaching and coaching rhythmic gymnastics for 36 years.” She’s been involved with USA Gymnastics as a volunteer for years. In the past 14 months, she and Beacon have worked with the team in a pet therapy capacity.
Beacon may be the most familiar face when it comes to Team USA therapy dogs, but he has many other furry friends. When they travel to competitions, Tracey organizes local pet therapy teams to work with the athletes. At the Olympics trials in June, Tracey brought together 15 teams to work with the gymnasts. Tracey says, “Providing that calming, joyful, interaction—I’m biased but I think it can benefit anybody in or out of the sport.”
Beacon was unable to travel to Paris due to logistical reasons, but he and Tracey cheered on the team from afar!
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