Beacon the Therapy Dog, How Canine Comfort Redefined Mental Health in Elite Gymnastics
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Team USA’s gymnastics squad embraced a furry emotional coach: Beacon, a four-year-old Golden Retriever trained as a therapy dog. Deployed to help mitigate performance anxiety, Beacon spent up to 15 hours a day by athletes’ sides, engaging in stress-relieving snuggles and quiet companionship. His presence lowered anxiety and cortisol levels,…