When LSU won their first-ever NCAA title last season, most considered that this was the end of the story for Olivia Dunne. After all, her four-year degree in Louisiana was about to come to an end. The team’s coach, Jay Clark, also felt the same thing. While Olivia did have the option of returning for another year, the coach thought that her huge success off the mat with her social media endeavors would mean that she would step away.

However, Olivia Dunne showed everyone how much LSU and the sport meant to her as she decided to return for her fifth year of competition. “Not Dunne yet,” she wrote as the caption of her Instagram post announcing her return to the college. This move was quite surprising and left Coach Clark surprised. “She was one that a lot of people, I think, kind of assumed was going to be done. But then she has all these opportunities, so when did she decide? That one was a bit of a surprise,” he said talking to the ‘All Things Gymnastics’ podcast. But things are taking a turn now.

Olivia did return to LSU and is all set to compete for the team this season. This has gotten her fans excited. However, slowly a realization is creeping up in their minds. No matter what happens at the end of the season, Olivia Dunne will leave the team and retire forever from college sports. This has given them a sense of dread, which has only increased after the gymnast’s recent Instagram post.

Olivia Dunne announced that she has finally graduated from her college course in interdisciplinary studies. The gymnast uploaded photos of her receiving the degree for which she has toiled for four years. This has also given Olivia some sort of thought about the fact that she is soon set to leave LSU. “Forever LSU,” she wrote in the caption. This meant that even if she was about to leave college soon, the love she had for it would never diminish.

When the gymnast eventually ends up leaving a huge legacy in the sport at the college level as Olivia has pushed the boundaries through a NIL value of $4.2 million, making her the highest-paid female college athlete. She will be known as someone who pushed the boundaries in the sport.

Olivia Dunne has already left her mark at LSU before graduation

Olivia Dunne’s $4.2 million earnings through NIL have been quite widely reported. The gymnast is the second highest in the list of the highest-paid college athletes, with her name being placed just behind football player Shedeur Sanders. Nevertheless, her earnings remain a huge milestone, as Olivia is far ahead of the highest earner in her college, with the second closest being Flau’jae Johnson with $1.5 million.

Thus, Olivia Dunne is paving the way for more recognition for LSU athletes. On December 14th, the college posted a video of their top alumni athletes from the past and present who were part of the Forbes 30 under 30 list. The list included the gymnasts alongside athletes like Flau’jae Johnson, Sha’Carri Richardson, Mondo Duplantis, and Angel Reese.

This shows the huge standing Olivia holds in the LSU, excluding Flau’jae (who is still in LSU); all the other athletes mentioned alongside her have achieved incredible success in their sports after graduating. The fact that Olivia Dunne has found herself on the list while still being part of the team is an extremely great record. This is why she will be fondly remembered alongside other top LSU athletes after she leaves the college.