Olivia Dunne, aka Livvy, a standout gymnast and one of the most recognizable faces in college athletics, has officially closed the chapter of her athletic career. After years of dedication to the sport and a standout run with LSU, Dunne’s final season ended unexpectedly due to a serious knee injury.
The farewell season turned into a difficult and emotional exit from the competition. The injury kept her off the field and ultimately brought her gymnastics career to an early end. Though her gymnastics career has come to an end, Dunne’s influence is far from over.
Olivia Dunne’s gymnastics career ended after a serious knee injury
Olivia Dunne suffered an avulsion fracture in her patella on March 6, 2025. It is a rare overuse injury where part of the kneecap is pulled away by surrounding tendons. The injury occurred just weeks before LSU competed in the NCAA semifinals. It kept her sidelined during LSU’s Senior Night and ultimately through the NCAA semifinals.
Dunne had hoped to make a final appearance for the Tigers but was unable to recover in time. Despite LSU entering the competition as the top-ranked team, they fell short of advancing to the national championship, finishing behind Utah and UCLA. It ended both the team’s title defense and Dunne’s competitive career.
Dunne revealed in an interview with PEOPLE that the injury stemmed not from trauma but from overuse, a rare cause for such a fracture. She said,
It is such a weird injury. Usually, patella fractures are from a direct blow to the knee, but mine is from overuse, which you don’t really see very often. And really, the only thing I need is time for it to heal… and it feels like it’s been forever.
Dunne graduated from LSU in December 2024 and announced that she will continue gymnastics for the fifth year. Unfortunately, a sudden knee injury ended her career. Her final message to the sport came on social media X after LSU’s season ended.
Leaving gymnastics, Olivia Dunne has opened a new chapter
Dunne leaves behind an impressive legacy. She helped lead LSU to a historic NCAA championship in 2024, was named a WCGA Academic All-American, and competed in multiple national and international competitions throughout her career(via People).
Beyond her athletic accomplishments, Dunne made national headlines as the top-earning female NCAA athlete, capitalizing on NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) opportunities. Besides gymnastics, she has made a successful social media career with a combined social media following of over 13 million fans across TikTok and Instagram.
Since her retirement, Dunne has started a new chapter. She recently completed her first semester of graduate school, purchased an apartment in New York City, and has been house-hunting by the beach. She’s also spending more time with her boyfriend, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, attending MLB games. Recently, Dunne appeared in the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
Though her final season didn’t go as planned, Dunne’s impact on gymnastics, NIL opportunities, and young athletes across the country is undeniable. Her story may have taken an unexpected turn, but she’s already writing the next chapter, and fans are still watching.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
