Olivia Dunne Bids Goodbye to LSU Gymnastics With a Heartfelt Message in Front of 5.3 Million Fans

“[Peace] out gymnastics….” Yes, it’s time to close a few chapters. Olivia Dunne is retiring from the sport, and her LSU exit also comes at the same time. Feels like it was just yesterday when Olivia Dunne signed the papers to join the Tigers, right? However, believe it or not, it’s actually been half a decade since that. No wonder the first line of Livvy’s ultimate throwback video that has freshly surfaced is: “Time flies when you’re having fun.” Wait, aren’t you wondering: video? What video? We’ll tell you that.

Olivia Dunne, unfortunately, couldn’t end her final LSU season in a fairy-tale win, as the side that was the number #1 seed till a few weeks ago in the regionals couldn’t make it past the NCAA semis. However, one thing is sure: LSU’s given her some solid memories on the mat. So many that she had to give one last shoutout to all those moments. And Livvy did, in a rather cinematic way! After all, a vanilla goodbye is just not her style.

On April 21, Olivia Dunne added an Instagram post, one that is enough to tear up any LSU gym/Livvy fan: A love letter to the sport, her team, and everything she’s built on the mat in the form of a montage! It starts with a hit of nostalgia as a snippet from Livvy’s LSU athlete introduction video pops up, where the cameras first captured Livvy in the purple and gold colors saying, “Hi, my name is Olivia Dunne, I am from Hillsadale, New Jersey…The highs, the lows, making the USA national team and competing for our country. Every risk was worth the reward. Finishing my career over the past five years at the best university in the world…I’m forever grateful.” 

When we add numbers to these memories, we see the legacy Olivia Dunne built via gymnastics. She made the U.S. National Team in 2017 and represented the nation at the 2017 Jesolo Trophy. The USA had ended up winning all-around in that event. Other than that, her national-level elite competitions include the 2018 U.S. Gymnastics Championships, the 2020 Nastia Liukin Cup, and much more. Coming to the NCAA bits, she helped the side to their first NCAA title in 2024, competing in 9 meets that season and winning the WCGA Academic All-American and Winter SEC Academic Honor Roll awards.

And then in the reel she posted came her heartfelt thank-you note to the sport: “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 were my first love.” Teared up yet? Well, there’s more coming to open those floodgates! Livvy then thanks her family and her LSU squad. No, she didn’t miss out on anyone! “To my family, especially my parents, thank you for everything. For supporting me through it all and to my childhood coaches from New Jersey and the LSU coaching staff. Thank you for pushing me to be great.” 

She even managed to add the vintage footage of her saying yes to her LSU offer, which featured a tiny Livvy sitting in front of her computer, speaking into her mic to the LSU official on the other end, “Nothing much. I just wanted to accept your offer.” Those were the words that ended up changing her life!

Now, she may not be a part of the sport officially, but gymnastics is never going to leave her heart. We saw that three days ago as she went back to being her goofy self on the mats! 

Olivia Dunne’s gymnastics fun seems to be forever

Away from all the stress of collegiate and competitive gymnastics, Olivia Dunne seems all ready to embrace the fun part of the sport now. She recently uploaded an Instagram story of her swinging on the bars in a gym. But when it was time to make the perfect landing, she ended up falling flat on her face. Luckily, it was on a pile of sponge blocks.

That’s when she gave a fun twist to it and wrote, “2 days into retirement be like!”  Well, we are sure, no matter how much time passes, it seems Olivia Dunne can never forget her gymnastics roots. But it looks like she’s ready to live the fun side of the sport now that she’s retired. What do you think of this? Let us know below!