“You are Strong”: Vulnerable Olivia Dunne Gets Gymnastics World’s Support After Recalling Her Horrifying Past

Olivia Dunne  and her cheery disposition on the mats is a tale that stands the test of time. But is anyone actually privy to the dark underbelly of the gymnastics world, one fraught with tension, abuse, and assault? Much to our chagrin, Olivia Dunne was training on the disdainful Karolyi Ranch when she was a wee lass. The ranch, a training ground for gymnasts the world over, is one that has a rather pitiful backstory to it that Dunne recently shared with her fans.

The Karolyi Ranch, once renowned as a training ground for gymnasts like Dunne who trained there from ages 10 to 16, has now become infamous, especially due to Dr. Larry Nassar’s imprisonment for se**al assault charges. Dunne’s candid description of her time there as “honestly abusive” has sparked an outpouring of support from fellow athletes and supporters worldwide. Even after the Karolyi Ranch’s closure, the trauma experienced by Dunne and others persists, emphasizing the ongoing need to tackle abuse and prioritize athlete welfare in gymnastics.

Olivia Dunne calls the Karolyi’ ranch an asylum in a recent post

Olivia Dunne hopped onto a current trend and shared a series of pictures on Tiktok with Taylor Swift’s lyrics ringing in the background, ‘You wouldn’t last an hour in the asylum where they raised me,’‘ referring to the camp as an asylum. She captioned the post, “iykyk” which stands for ‘if you know, you know’. The camp that is defamed is the Karolyi Ranch, the former USA Gymnastics national training center, where many gymnasts were preyed on by former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar. The Karolyi Ranch has been at the center of the se**al abuse scandal in USA Gymnastics, with more than 100 gymnasts, including Olympic champions Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, and McKayla Maroney, accusing Nassar of se**ally abusing them at the ranch. 

Conversely, Simone Biles broke her silence and testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the “traumatizing” abuse she suffered at the hands of Nassar. Olympic gold medalist McKayla Maroney also detailed the horrific abuse she experienced from Nassar, alleging he molested her “hundreds” of times starting from the age of 13. Maroney accused the FBI of minimizing her allegations and silencing her, as well as USA Gymnastics of including a confidentiality clause in her settlement that tried to conceal Nassar’s abuse. Other athletes like Jordyn Wieber, Gabby Douglas, and Maggie Nichols also came forward to share their thoughts of being se**ally abused by Nassar during their training time with USA Gymnastics.

In 2018, USA Gymnastics terminated its agreement with the Karolyi coaches’ camp after an investigation uncovered the severe abuse that occurred at the ranch. The Karolyis, who ran the ranch, has been accused of failing to protect the gymnasts and disregarding Nassar’s abuse. Dunne’s dedication to prioritizing her training at the USA camp, despite its bad reputation for scandal and a toxic atmosphere, has not dropped as she said last year, “I would leave my family for a week every year to go to the USA training camp, which obviously had terrible scandals and that whole environment was not so good.” Dunne and other athletes faced tough challenges dealing with the tough times at the Karolyi Ranch. Meanwhile, fans are rallying behind Livvy, showing her lots of love and support during this difficult time.

Fans lift up her spirit with their support

Fans from all corners of the gymnastics world are rallying behind Olivia Dunne, offering unwavering support as she bravely confronts the haunting memories of her past. One of the fans is deeply moved by Dunne’s strength, expressing unwavering support with a heartfelt message, “I will never stop thinking about that case you are strong❤️.” Expressing deep empathy and showcasing genuine concern for Dunne’s wellbeing post her experiences there another fan commented, “oh damn not the karolyi ranch 🙁 hope you’re okay now <3”, showing concern for Dunne’s wellbeing after her experiences there.

Sharing heartfelt empathy and reflecting on Dunne’s journey with a sense of relief and support, one fan remarked, “yeah saw the documentary about that place it’s not good. glad you made it out okay”. A fan conveyed sincere sympathy towards Dunne for her past experiences and simply stated, “I’m sorry that happened to you”. With a sense of disbelief, reflecting on the intensity of Dunne’s experiences and expressing concern for the challenges she faced in the sport a fan questioned, “Gymnastics be that rough?”

Olivia Dunne’s courage in sharing her story is truly admirable. Share your thoughts in the comment section below.