2024 was historic for the LSU Tigers Gymnastics team and more so for their star gymnast, Olivia Dunne. After winning the first-ever championship for the Tigers, Olivia is very focused on her next goal. Since this is the last year of her college, the 22-year-old wants to “seize every moment.” “I know it could be my last. It’s my last year of eligibility, and I just really want to make the best of it,” said Dunne. As expected, the Tigers are flying high in the 2025 season as well. However, there is a growing concern about the depth of this team.

Haleigh Bryant, the 2024 NCAA All-Around Champion, who played a crucial role for the Tigers in 2024, has just come back from her injury. While Bryant did come back in the second week for the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad meet, she could only participate in beams, and even there she was seen struggling to find her groove. Bryant’s underwhelming 9.750 score will be a big concern for the Tigers and their head coach Jay Clark.

On the other hand, The Sooners are on a hot streak. The Oklahoma gymnastics are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to snatch the title back from the Tigers. Posting a remarkable 197.950 at the Sprouts Collegiate Quad, Oklahoma remains the no. 1 team in the nation and continues to be a threat for the reigning champions, LSU Tigers.

The return of Olivia Dunne to multiple events brought excitement to the Tigers’ roster. Still, there are doubts over their sustained consistency through a grueling season. Up-and-coming stars like Kailin Chio are rising to the occasion, but the reliance on a few key athletes is drawing attention and raising questions about LSU’s long-term strategy.

Could this be the season LSU overcomes its vulnerabilities? Or will depth and rotation concerns still cause it to fail to meet projections? The rest of the preseason gymnastics universe is abuzz. And everyone is keeping a close watch on the progress of the Tigers over the ensuing weeks.

 Olivia Dunne returning + a bright spot for LSU

There is little doubt that one of the high points for LSU has been the return of Olivia Dunne to competition. With most of her career so far marred by battling through injuries and having minimal contributions, Dunne has definitely breathed fresh life into the scores for the Tigers on bars and beam. She isn’t quite at full pace yet. But she does offer renewed hope to the fans who see her as the face of this improved LSU.

Meanwhile, freshman sensation Kailin Chio started cementing her position as the backbone of this LSU team. An athlete known to always look graceful under pressure and technically perfect, Chio has consistently delivered high scores throughout different events. Her outstanding routines, often landing in the 9.9+ score ranges on bars and beams, helped keep LSU competitive.

LSU’s reliance on those stalwart gymnasts reveals a fundamental problem: depth. Top teams like Oklahoma are built with lists full of 9.9-level routines ready to go. However, LSU seems unable to rotate in and out gymnasts without losing quality. It’s an issue that doesn’t get much better as the team goes deeper into the season and, with tougher, meets down the stretch.

 Depth concerns and reactions of the Gymnastics community

But despite the momentary flashes of brilliance, questions are being raised. Fans and analysts alike are concerned with LSU’s overall stability. As one fan noted, “LSU kinda scares me because of their depth. But more so the 9.9-plus depth that is kinda lacking.” That, in large part, is a concern heard throughout the gymnastics community. However, the extent to which the Tigers will be vulnerable in high-pressure scenarios is yet to be known.

That is because, as good as LSU has been, they are still behind some of the powerhouse programs, such as Oklahoma. And this only further highlights how far they’ve fallen. “Oklahoma/LSU—they’re the top two teams, and then there’s a gap,” another observer said. “Oklahoma is more in top form now than LSU is. But by the end of the season, I think LSU will be able to match them if they’re motivated to defend their title.”

Other fans have focused on LSU’s resilience, saluting its ability to adapt under pressure. “Out of any team I’ve seen in the past five years, LSU is probably the grittiest in terms of losing top routines or gymnasts and fighting back,” one comment read. The same fan then said depth issues with the Tigers could still prove a problem.

Some will even argue that LSU’s current approach is essentially the right route to take. What approach do you ask? Well, it is simply holding its best gymnasts for the postseason. “I just think there is little to win for a team like LSU this early in the season,” one user has argued. “It’s not like they’ll have trouble making regionals. So you can afford to play a bit with the lineup early on and gradually introduce your frosh,” says another user.

Others, though, have taken to the media with grumpier remarks. “LSU is frustrating. But at the same time, I think they need to save people for post-season,” one fan pointed out. Elaborating that by the end, gymnasts like Olivia Dunne, whose scores recently have fallen into the 9.8 range, have to take all of these pressures.

The path ahead for LSU The 2025 season will have ups and downs in store for LSU Gymnastics. With stars returning, such as Olivia Dunne, along with rising leading talents like Kailin Chio, the Tigers have the potential to compete against the best of the conference. However, their depth issues and reliance on key athletes remain major obstacles.

As the season progresses, so do the questions. To reap championship gold, LSU will have to iron out these chinks in their armor. The gymnastics community is salivating at the chance of seeing whether the Tigers can silence the critics and prove them wrong. Or will this be another year of struggle for them? One thing is for sure. The heat is on, and the spotlight is brighter than ever.