Will Olivia Dunne Ever Compete in NCAA Again? Everything To Know About Gymnastics Queen’s Star-Studded Future

Olivia Dunne and her teammates in purple leotards might not forget the night of April 20 in their lives. That night brought the LSU Tigers their first national gymnastics championship, where names like Haleigh Bryant and Kiya Johnson put on a show to defeat the arch-rival Florida Gators and the top-seeded gymnastics team. This leads to the question of whether Olivia Dunne, who has gone back and forth on her decision to retire, will come back for a fifth year at LSU.

There remains a possibility of Dunne showcasing her talent again in Baton Rouge, but at the same time, the NCAA’s highest female NIL earner isn’t short of options.

Is it the end? Or the beginning of another new chapter?

In February, Dunne hinted at her 18-year gymnastics career coming to an end this season. But in March, sitting beside Sierra Ballard, the social media queen confessed in a press conference. “Yeah, I’ve not decided if I’m coming back for a fifth year yet. I could, but I haven’t really thought about it yet.” Back then, she had also said that bringing home the National Championships takes precedence over the decision on her future. That dream is achieved, so what’s next for Dunne?

As of now, the 21-year-old Olivia Dunne still holds one year of eligibility after joining the program during the pandemic period. But her massive social media presence and the fact that she already secured partnerships with some of the world’s biggest brands, suggest that her future beyond gymnastics is also promising.

Dunne has signed deals with Motorola cell phone company, Vuori clothing, EA Sports, Body Armor, Grubhub, Linktree, Forever 21, American Eagle Outfitters, and Bartleby, which is a growing study app. Apart from these, she has also set up her own venture called The Livvy Fund, which aims to create more opportunities for LSU female student-athletes, leveraging Dunne’s experience with brand partnerships.

Last year in October, Livvy Fund and Accelerator Active Energy announced a partnership that will deliver a first-of-its-kind NIL deal to several of her gymnast teammates. This came after Accelerator Active Energy signed Dunne to a deal adding her to their stacked roster, which includes Yankees captain Aaron Judge, Chiefs Super Bowl-winning tight end, Travis Kelce, and many more.

The deal between Accelerator Active Energy and The Livvy Fund means Dunne will continue to be associated with gymnastics in some capacity. Moreover, she has 13 million social media followers and experience as a model for Nautica and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, which means there is little doubt that Olivia Dunne will be in the spotlight even if she decides not to go ahead with a fifth year at LSU.

But in case, she decides to extend her stay; she is more than capable of making an impact.

Olivia Dunne scored a perfect 10 during LSU Senior Night

Understandably, Livvy has craved a place for herself on and off the mats. But whether she is going to stick to that, depends on her only. She will take the call if is ready to stay in the camp for one more year or not. Her performances this season suggest she has a lot more to give.

Back in March, in what still be her last performance at the Pete Maravich Center, Dunne earned a perfect score from one judge in her beam routine against North Carolina. That evening the gymnast registered an average of 9.8 with 9.75 in the beam routine. The occasion was also LSU Tigers’ senior night, which embraced Olivia Dunne being the communication graduate in the program.

A continued injury scare or less preparation before heading to the gymnastic season couldn’t defy her in stepping onto the mat in Arkansas Regional on April 4. On that day, Livvy posted 9.90, her personal best in the floor exercise. Such a capability raised questions about her gymnastics retirement. 

While a championship win could be a fitting way to end bid goodbye to a stellar career, Dunne could be motivated to carry on, due to the fact her last two years at LSU have been affected by injuries. She also did not make the six-member starting rotation for LSU at the NCAA Championships this year.

Hence, don’t be surprised if Olivia Dunne takes to the mats come next year to write her own story.