“[Peace Emoji Sign] out gymnastics, it’s been real… and of course forever LSU!!”
That was the message Olivia Dunne posted on X on April 18. One sentence, but they carried the weight of a five-year journey, one that turned her into a face of college gymnastics, a top NIL earner, and a symbol of LSU’s rise in the sport. Her post came less than 24 hours after the LSU Tigers finished third in the NCAA semifinals on Thursday, April 17. The 22-year-old star then shared a video on 21 April—a highlight reel put together and featuring some of her standout moments in purple and gold, narrated with emotion. But she wasn’t done expressing herself, she had something to say!
Honestly, Olivia Dunne knows how to make a moment stick. Because what came next wasn’t a quote, it wasn’t a press release, it was two fleeting Instagram stories on
April 23
. And yet? They said more than words ever could. The first image hit like a gut punch for longtime LSU fans.
A locker , Yes her locker!, which stood wide open at what appears to be the LSU gymnastics facility. That unmistakable purple panel at the top still proudly displayed her name: “OLIVIA DUNNE,” backlit, glowing. The LSU logo beside it reminded you where it all happened. Inside, not much remained. But then, when your eyes land on the caption on the dark interior and it hits Gymnastics fans:
“livvy is now dunne.”
It might’ve been a clever wordplay. But it may also have been her way of closing the book. Softly. Honestly. Finally.
The second story? Completely different vibe. A drawer stuffed, and I mean
stuffed
with what looked like white leather grips. You know, the kind elite gymnasts use for uneven bars. With finger holes, buckles, frayed edges, each one probably with its own battle story. The overlay? A dry, playful jab:
“
my strange addiction
:”
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It might’ve looked like a hoard to someone unfamiliar. But for someone like Dunne? That’s five years of ripped hands, taped wrists, late-night ice baths, all in one drawer. Grips like those don’t just protect skin; they hold memories.
While Olivia Dunne couldn’t script the fairy tale ending. LSU, a top seed, bowed out in the semifinals. She didn’t compete. But that doesn’t erase what she’s built. From a U.S. National Team spot in 2017 to medaling at the Jesolo Trophy. From elite stages like the Nastia Liukin Cup to NCAA glory. And yes, LSU’s first national title came this year and she was there, competing in nine meets, earning both WCGA Academic All-American and Winter SEC Academic honors.
What did gymnastics mean to Olivia Dunne?
To
Olivia Dunne
, gymnastics wasn’t just a sport. It was the soundtrack of her childhood, the rhythm of her teenage years, and the anchor through her early adulthood. When she said,
“Time flies when you’re having fun. That’s exactly how the past 20 years in this sport have felt,”
in her emotional farewell video on 21
st
April, it wasn’t a cliché.
She began when she was three, and yes, it was about a sparkly pink leotard at first. But by five? She was already trying out for the pre-team at ENA Gymnastics in New Jersey. By the time she hit the Level 4 State Championships, she shattered the state all-around record. A year later, she skipped two entire levels, soaring from Level 5 to Level 8. That doesn’t happen unless you’re special. And she was!!
She joined LSU in 2020, and from the moment she made her NCAA debut against Arkansas with a crisp 9.875 on bars, Dunne became one of the Tigers’ most consistent performers — and easily their most visible. Her career-best 9.925 on bars in her freshman season? Iconic. Her 9.9 on floor at the regionals of same season, after bouncing back from torn labrums, a torn bicep, and a stress reaction in her leg? Grit defined. But what did
she
say gymnastics meant?
“Gymnastics, you have filled my heart and will always be a part of me. You’ve shaped me into the person I am today, creating memories and sisterhoods that will last a lifetime beyond the sport. You are my first love.”
And her final words?
“And yes, time did fly by. And I will cherish every memory for the rest of my life. Thank you for everything, gymnastics. You were so good to me.”
She meant every word. And we believed her.
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