Campaign to Save Team USA Gymnastics Therapy Dog Launched: ‘Goodest Boy’

USA Gymnastics’ beloved therapy dog has fallen ill with a mystery condition. Now, he needs help to cover his extortionate veterinary bills so he can attend the 2028 Olympics.

Beacon, a golden retriever (@goldendogbeacon) known as “the goodest boy,” is not just any dog; he’s an indispensable member of the national gymnastics squad, providing emotional support and helping athletes manage their nerves and anxieties during high-stress competitions.

Three weeks ago, Beacon’s owner, 65-year-old Tracey Callahan Molnar, noticed something alarming upon returning from a hiking trip in California’s Angeles National Forest. “He was moving stiffly,” she told Newsweek.

She immediately took him to the vet, where he received an anti-inflammatory injection. His blood work came back normal, and for a short time, Beacon seemed to improve.

However, during a rhythmic gymnastics camp in New York, his condition plateaued. Worried, Molnar took him back to the vet. “They did some X-rays, which showed fluid in his chest cavity—he was also running a fever. Things escalated from there,” she said.

Beacon was rushed to an emergency veterinary hospital, where he was placed in a room with an oxygen chamber.

On September 3, Beacon was diagnosed with pleural effusion, a condition where fluid builds up in the chest cavity, making it difficult to breathe. Vets drained 700ml of liquid from his chest.

“I felt upside down. Beacon is 4 years old. While we were camping and hiking, it was business as usual; nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Even now, it’s just so baffling,” she said.

Jacqueline Fealy, a family friend who set up the fundraiser, reported that Beacon’s surgery on September 5 went well.

“They were able to biopsy tissue from his chest cavity and installed two drainage ports, one on each side. The doctors have been monitoring the drainage, and with the help of steroids, the fluid accumulation has reduced slightly. Beacon had a peaceful night,” she said on the fundraising page.

Beacon was discharged from True Care For Pets, Studio City, on September 7, and Molnar was trained to empty his chest drainage ports. Though he was briefly readmitted a few days later due to elevated breathing rates, doctors attributed the spike to medication, and he returned home in better spirits.

Despite extensive testing, Beacon’s condition remains a mystery. They have ruled out cancer from the biopsy results after fears his deterioration could have been linked to mesothelioma, a rare kind of cancer triggered by asbestos.

“Needless to say, finding out it’s not only NOT mesothelioma, but NOT cancer of any kind is reassuring on one hand but still scary because they still don’t have a definitive diagnosis,” Molnar shared on Beacon’s Instagram page in a video update that garnered 42,600 views.

While hospitalized, his exhausted yet determined spirit shone through.

“They had little stuffed animals in the room—Beacon is obsessed with stuffed animals—and even though he was weak, he lifted his nose to try and reach one,” Molnar told Newsweek.

Although Beacon’s organs appear healthy based on ultrasounds, and he has undergone a CT scan and tissue biopsy of his lungs, there is still no definitive answer for his condition. Doctors have already ruled out common fungi and bacteria and are now investigating his travel history over the past year to conduct more thorough tests.

“I felt like I saw, for the first time in three weeks, a little bit of our Beacon again—he had a bit more energy, there was a bit more tail wagging,” Molnar said.

USA Gymnastics shared their support for their much-loved therapy dog.

“We’re wishing Good Boy Beacon a speedy recovery!” they wrote on Facebook.

Beacon’s Gymnastics Career

Beacon officially became a therapy dog in May 2022. He quickly made a name for himself by helping U.S. gymnasts stay calm and focused in the lead-up to major competitions. He also provides animal-assisted therapy in hospitals in Pasadena and at Cal Tech University.

Molnar, who has been involved in the sport as a gymnast and later as a rhythmic gymnastics coach, was recruited alongside her canine companion to offer animal therapy to USA Gymnastics. He skyrocketed in popularity during the USA Olympic Trials in Minneapolis in June 2024.

“It’s been an overwhelming success from the very first endeavor. His popularity went through the roof,” Molnar said.

According to Molnar, science has shown that interacting with animals—whether through petting, talking, or simply observing—can lower blood pressure, reduce cortisol levels, and increase feel-good hormones like serotonin and dopamine.

Beacon has worked his magic by simply being present with the gymnasts, offering quiet comfort and affection.

“The best visits are when I’m not talking at all,” Molnar told Newsweek. “I see myself as the conduit, letting that interaction happen naturally. People spending time with Beacon are talking and asking questions, Beacon will lay still, show his belly for rubs or will sit next to them. If they stop petting, he will scoot a little closer just to remind them he’s there.”

USA Gymnastics has even created a wellness room where Beacon and other therapy dogs spend time with gymnasts before and after training and competitions.

“It’s something beautiful to witness—a front-row seat to watching the stress melt away from their bodies. Their shoulders drop, their tense faces relax, and smiles appear. It’s such a gift,” Molnar said.

Fealy owed USA Gymnastics’ meteoric success at the 2024 Olympics to Beacon’s support.

“I may be biased, however, I believe Beacon was a positive factor that helped the gymnasts win so many medals at the 2024 Summer Olympics,” she wrote on the fundraiser page.

Run-ins with Gymnastics Stars

During his career, Beacon has met some of gymnastics’ biggest stars, including Suni Lee, Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, Joscelyn Roberson and Evita Griskenas. Molnar fondly recalls Beacon’s interactions with Biles across multiple event locations.

“She’d be walking into the competition venue, and I’d hear her say, ‘Aw, there’s Beacon!’ or ‘Hi, Beacon!’ It only made him super happy—but anybody who notices him makes him happy, he does not discriminate” Molnar said.

Beacon has even struck up a “nice little friendship” with Biles’ niece, who is now 21 months old.

“At the airport in Minneapolis, after they met, I heard tiny footsteps running behind us. It was Simone’s niece, chasing after us because she recognized Beacon,” Molnar said.

Beacon’s Future and Fundraiser

Despite his health struggles, Beacon continues to show his love for people, even when he’s not feeling his best.

“Even when he sees people behind us, he turns around and waits for them to catch up. He doesn’t always have the energy to pull, but he makes it clear he still wants to say hi,” Molnar said.

As of publication, Beacon’s fundraiser has reached $27,408 of its $42,000 goal, impressively surpassing the halfway mark. However, he still needs more donations to continue treatment and uncover the root cause of his symptoms.

“It’s hard for me to say this, but I’m not sure we would’ve been able to get Beacon to this point without the extreme generosity of others. Figuring out what this might be has been costly, but I hope that once we have a diagnosis, treatment will be more straightforward and less expensive,” Molnar said.

To donate to Beacon’s fundraiser, visit their GoFundMe page here.