Olivia Dunne: Rising Gymnastics Star for LSU Tigers NCAA Contenders

The Rising Star of LSU Gymnastics: Olivia Dunne

The 2022-2023 season is shaping up to be an exciting one for the LSU Tigers women's gymnastics team. With a roster full of talented athletes, the Tigers are expected to be top contenders in the NCAA. But there is one freshman gymnast who is attracting much of the attention: Olivia Dunne.

Olivia Dunne's Background

Olivia Dunne hails from Hillsdale, New Jersey and has been doing gymnastics from a very young age. She started taking gymnastics classes at the age of three and began competing at seven. Dunne trained under Maggie Haney at MG Elite Gymnastics where she honed her skills over the years. Her hard work paid off as she emerged as one of the top junior gymnasts in the country.

Dunne is a level 10 gymnast and was a member of the USA Junior National Team in 2019 and 2020. She won numerous accolades over her junior career including being the All-Around National Champion at the 2019 American Classic. Heading into college, Olivia Dunne was ranked as the number 2 recruit in NCAA coming out of high school.

Joining the LSU Tiger Gymnastics Team

With her sights set on competing at the collegiate level, Olivia Dunne committed to Louisiana State University. She signed with LSU as part of their 2022 freshman recruiting class. The Tigers have one of the premier gymnastics programs in the entire country.

LSU gymnastics has won 6 NCAA national championships and has produced Olympians like Lloimincia Hall. Under the tutelage of head coach Jay Clark, the Tigers are regularly championship contenders. The elite training environment and facilities at LSU made it an attractive choice for Olivia Dunne.

Dunne officially joined the LSU team in 2022 and made an immediate impact. She impressed during preseason training with her dynamism on vault and floor exercise. Olivia Dunne qualified for the all-around in her first two collegiate meets.

Rising Fame on Social Media

While making her mark on the mat, Olivia Dunne has also become a social media sensation. She boasts over 6 million followers on TikTok and 3 million on Instagram. Dunne's massive popularity stems from the gymnastics videos and photos she posts.

Dunne's social media stardom has led some to criticize the NCAA's naming, image, and likeness (NIL) rules. Under NIL, student-athletes can now monetize their personal brands. The argument is that fame like Dunne's is only possible because of college gymnastics. Her supporters counter that she earned her following through creative entrepreneurship.

Excelling as a Freshman for LSU

Controversy aside, Olivia Dunne's focus remains on contributing to the LSU gymnastics team. She made her official debut for the Tigers on January 6, 2023 in a home meet against Utah State. Competing in the all-around, Dunne put up excellent scores on vault, bars, and floor.

She punctuated her first meet with a crowd-pleasing floor routine. Her clean execution, height on tumbling passes, and graceful dance moves earned Dunne a 9.95 from the judges. That sealed her victory in the all-around for the meet.

Dunne is just getting started this season, but her potential is sky-high. With additional polishing on beam, she is capable of consistently scoring 9.9+ across all four events. Olivia Dunne has the talent to follow in the footsteps of LSU greats and become an NCAA champion.

The Future is Bright

Olivia Dunne still has a long gymnastics career ahead both at the collegiate and elite levels. But the early signs point to a very bright future for the young athlete. With her prodigious talent and work ethic, Dunne is poised to be one of the next big stars in the sport.

LSU gymnastics appears ready for another championship run this season. Led by veterans and incoming freshmen like Dunne, the Tigers aim to compete for the 2023 NCAA national title. Fans are excited to see Olivia Dunne showcase her abilities for LSU in the years to come!

FAQs

How old is Olivia Dunne?

Olivia Dunne is 18 years old as of 2023. She was born on January 2, 2005.

Where is Olivia Dunne from?

Dunne is from Hillsdale, New Jersey. She trained at MG Elite Gymnastics in her home state before college.

What is Olivia Dunne's major at LSU?

Dunne is currently studying broadcast journalism at Louisiana State University.

What is Olivia Dunne's specialty in gymnastics?

Dunne is an elite all-around gymnast, but her strongest events are floor exercise and vault.

How many social media followers does Olivia Dunne have?

As of 2023, Dunne has over 6 million followers on TikTok and 3 million on Instagram.