American gymnast Byles poses with a therapy dog
Aug. 6, according to a report in the New York Post on August 5, the U.S. gymnastics team brought a 4-year-old golden retriever to the Olympic Games in Paris this year to ease the psychological burden on its members. It has been described by US media as the“Most Valuable Puppy” of the Paris Olympics.
Buecken, a golden retriever One Call Away, works up to 15 hours a day as the team’s “Therapist” during team training. Beacon’s owners say it senses stress and knows how to calm people down. “Petting a puppy can lower blood pressure and reduce anxiety.”
Beacon is not the only treatment dog at the Olympics, but he recently became one of the Paris Olympics’ Internet stars. Byles, an American gymnast, said mental health had always been an important task for United States women’s national gymnastics team and posted pictures of herself with Buecken on social media.