Height plays a major role in gymnastics. While the consensus is that shorter gymnasts have a substantial advantage over the taller ones, the same corollary is not always true. Several female gymnasts like Olivia Dunne, who are way taller than the five-foot mark, have gone on to enjoy significant success in the sport.
There is a strong belief that shorter gymnasts have a lower center of gravity and thus allow for more body control during acrobatic movements. A shorter height also allows better body rotations. However, all this science has been proven wrong by the US sweetheart Olivia Dunne. So, how tall is Dunne? Where does she stand in comparison to the other top gymnasts? Let’s find out.
How exactly does Olivia Dunne fare stature wise compared to her compatriots?
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According to reports from ‘Legit’ and ‘LSUSports’, Olivia Dunne stands at 5’6” or 168cm tall. This is significantly above the average height of the female gymnasts. A quick comparison with the top-tier gymnastics icons will clarify things further. For example, 4x Olympic gold medal winner Simone Biles stands at 4’8”. Her low center of gravity has enabled her to execute some of the toughest routines perfectly and in an aesthetically pleasing way.
A couple of more noted gymnasts from the US include the likes of Jordan Chiles and Gabby Douglas. While Chiles is 4’11” tall, Douglas stands at 5’3”. 3x Olympic gold medal winner, Douglas, is undoubtedly one of the modern-day gymnastics greats whereas Chiles is soon emerging as the next big thing in US gymnastics.
Other notable names that have establishments themselves as a force to reckon with in the realm of gymnastics are Trinity Thomas and Rebecca Andrade. Coincidentally, these athletes are also way shorter than Olivia Dunne, standing at 5’3” and 4’11” respectively. Thus, living in an era where gymnasts with seemingly shorter height have succeeded the most, does Olivia Dunne’s 5’6” height prove as a hindrance to her success?
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An Olivia Dunne success story – a tall order on and off the mats
Olivia Dunne is considered the queen of NCAA gymnastics and that has a reason. Playing for the LSU Tigers, Dunne has a record career-high score of 9.925 on the bars. Taking to the floor, Dunne was consistent enough to average 9.863 throughout the season, after replacing KJ Johnson. Some of her best accomplishments include qualifying for the 2020 Nastia Liukin Cup and the P&G Championships back to back in 2016 and 2017.
Read More: Olivia Dunne Bikini Pictures Alongside Swimsuit Models Makes a Splash Online
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Competing at the 2017 US Classics, the young Dunne impressed heavily, clinching the sixth position in floor and beam and finishing fifth overall. Apart from her on-court exploits, Dunne also has a huge social media presence. Taking a liking to her gymnastics content, over 7 million fans follow her on TikTok while 4 million of them follow her on Instagram. Thus, it is evident that her height is not a hindrance to her performance, as Olivia Dunne has her eyes set on bigger gymnastics dreams to fulfill in the future.
Continue to read: Olivia Dunne and Paul Skenes Spotted in Exclusive Contest After Weeks of Long Distance