It’s a victory moment for the world to recognize uncanny similarities between Olivia Dunne and Mary Lou Retton. The intergenerational connection brought to the fore several common factors between the two, leaving the world baffled. The 21-year highest-paid NCAA athlete just stepped on her LSU senior year to make her final college mark. On the other hand, the 55-year-old Olympian, who had clinched the first all-round gymnastic gold for her nation, established herself as the pioneer. However, as the story unfolds, Livvy’s ‘America’s Crush’ title isn’t the first in history.

Mary Lou Retton, the Olympian, received the title of ‘America’s Sweetheart’ after she ruled in 1984 Olympics. Fast forward to now, the sweetheart battled with a rare form of pneumonia. But she finally showed signs of recovery as per recent reports. On the other hand, Livvy, atop her game, is ruling social media with her prolific presence besides gymnastics. Despite the current contrasting situation of the two, their noble self and social presence meet at the same point.

Instances tied Olivia Dunne and Mary Lou together

Baton Rouge, the city which boasts Dunne’s college, had Mary in a school gym back in 2018. On a mission to motivate the youngsters of St. Joseph’s Academy, the Olympic gold medalist stood as an idol to a room full of hopeful eyes. After stating `Nobody is going to tell me what I could or couldn?t do,’ the then-50-year-old continued inspiring. On the other hand, there’s Livvy, who debuted with the SI for their Swimsuit Issue with a bold message. Shortly after, the October’s Money Issue boasted Olivia, highlighting her success in the realm of NIL. Alongside Angel Reese, she focused on inspiring fellow athletes to walk her path.

After Lou’s 1984 win, her passion for gymnastics unfurled. Scoring a 10, 10, 10, became a cakewalk for her. Training under Nadia Comaneci’s coach was a boon to her already sharpened skill-sets. On the other hand, with frequent videos of her gymnastic routines, Livvy honors LSU Gym with her perfect landings. Both standing as inspirational examples in front of the nation, the generation gap got washed away in a jiffy.

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Another common factor is the business-related commitment. Besides gymnastics, Dunne earns staggering amounts from social media. Along similar lines, after Mary’s gymnastic retirement, she transitioned her career to being a television personality. Interestingly, both of them have a penchant for dance. While Lou participated in “Dancing with the Stars” Season 7, Dunne dances away in popular TikTok trends. As the good news of Mary’s recovery spreads, another similarity drew attention.

The LSU connect

McKenna Shelley, daughter of the Olympian, has her mother’s genes. Moreover, hailing from a sporty family, McKenna recognized her passion for gymnastics at a very young age. When she signed up for the LSU Tigers gymnastics team in 2016, the starlet discovered her own path in the sport. During her college gymnastics days, she had a strong name, specializing in the floor exercise.

Despite skipping a year for an Achilles tendon injury, she made a comeback for anchoring LSU to the win before quitting post senior season. The LSU Tigers story sounds familiar, as the nation’s very own crush belongs there. In 2020, the 21-year-old Dunne joined the LSU Tigers team and is soon to conclude her senior year after the 2024 SEC Championships.

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Besides all the similarities that the gymnastic greats have, the 55-year-old’s recovery news relieved the nation. As a celebratory note, both the gymnasts have strengthened their own grounds.