Olivia Dunne Clears Air on NCAA Gymnastics Season After LSU Graduation

As if Olivia Dunne wasn’t interesting enough, this is just more interesting! It comes as no news that Dunne completed her undergraduate degree in interdisciplinary studies. Dunne then decided she would be returning to Louisiana State University for her fifth year for the love of gymnastics. “This past year I found a renewed love of the sport,“ were her words as she returned to the mats. However, she was not alone!

Dunne returned to the mats alongside her teammates, including Chase Brock, Haleigh Bryant, and Sierra Ballard. “She’s not done yet,” she added. All the returnees had a year of eligibility left due to COVID. However, in December, Dunne posted some pictures that showed her graduating. And this put a big question on everyone’s mind: How is Olivia Dunne still eligible to compete?

Dunne is done with her first graduation, but far from done with LSU!

The air around this question thickened after Dunne’s recent ESPN interview. “I want to learn more about the business side of sports… and how I can use my platform to make a difference,” said Dunne in the interview. But how exactly was she going to do that when she had already graduated? Well, her TikTok post from earlier today might just have the answers!

In a recent TikTok video, Olivia Dunne brings her infectious humor to the forefront. But also some facts! In the video, Dunne is seen holding her diploma and dancing. While the text read, “Me when my diploma finally comes 3 days before the TikTok Ban.” Hilarious, isn’t it? But the comments section had a different set of questions! It all circled back to Dunne’s eligibility. So what’s the news on that?

Olivia Dunne went on to simply clear the air. “I’m in grad school now,” she wrote. That’s right folks, Dunne is not done with the LSU mats just yet. She is pursuing a graduate degree, with plans to dive into business or sports management. While all seems okay on the eligibility front, as the NCAA season moves into tough competitions, the same cannot be said about Dunne on the mats!

Olivia Dunne’s video comes moments before the LSU Tigers showdown!

Olivia Dunne’s TikTok video comes a day before the LSU Tigers go up against #7 Florida. While the Tigers might be defending national champions, the Florida Gators won the SEC title just last year, taking down Dunne’s college. Additionally, the Gators are coming off taking down #6 ranked Michigan. To make it even more interesting, one of the Gator’s prodigies had the highest all-around score in the country!

Leanne Wong, who earned three scores of 9.95, will be back on the mats to go up against the LSU Tigers. However, Dunne’s team is not far behind. At the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad, LSU earned a historic score of 197.650, which was their highest score for the season. And Dunne? Despite a score of 9.725, she could only make it to third place on bars. But with LSU standing at #2, this is rather a crucial showdown for the Tigers. And Olivia Dunne is all set to shine. So let the rivalry begin!