“Me laughing ‘til I remember I’m doing long distance until my season is over.” The bittersweet confession from Olivia Dunne hit hard earlier this year, especially for fans who’ve been rooting for the LSU star both on and off the mat. Back in February, Livvy was deep in the grind of her final NCAA gymnastics season, and the dream of traveling to support her boyfriend, MLB pitcher Paul Skenes, during spring training was just that—a dream. Between competitions, training, and a packed Tigers schedule, quality time with Paul had to take a backseat. Fast-forward to April, and the tide seems to be turning!

In early March, Livvy revealed she was dealing with a painful avulsion fracture on her patella—a brutal injury that not only kept her from training but shattered her hopes of competing one last time in front of a home crowd at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. “It absolutely breaks my heart to not get the opportunity to compete in the PMAC one last time,” she posted, breaking hearts across Tiger Nation. And when she missed the NCAA Regional Final on April 5, it was clear her season was winding down in a way she never imagined. Now, with the NCAA Semifinals on April 17 looming, fans are wondering: Will Livvy make a surprise comeback?

Realistically? Things aren’t looking good. Olivia’s injury hasn’t seen a public update since early April, and even then, her tone suggested acceptance rather than anticipation. As she said on April 5, “no better feeling” than supporting her team from the sidelines—even if it wasn’t the way she wanted her season to end. But here’s the silver lining: Livvy might finally get that long-overdue break she’s been craving all season.

In an interview with People on April 8, Olivia Dunne shared what’s next now that she’s stepping away from gymnastics—at least for now. “I’m super excited to be able to spend time with Paul,” she said with a smile. “I’ve always had to train during my summers and stuff… So to be able to not have to do gymnastics training and be able to spend more time in Pittsburgh with Paul enjoying the baseball season, I’m looking forward to that.” And while she’s planning on soaking up every inning, Livvy’s got a little wish for the Pittsburgh Pirates, too.

“Hopefully the Pirates can turn things around,” the 22-year-old laughed. “They did not have the best series against the Marlins, but I’m excited to see what Paul can do and how his mindset and his leadership role can help the Pirates win.” With a summer full of stadium lights, recovery time, and finally, some normalcy in her long-distance love life, Olivia Dunne is ready for a new season in more ways than one. But this time, there will be no gymnastics. 

Olivia Dunne is on her way to retiring from gymnastics 

Just before the NCAA Regional Finals, Olivia Dunne dropped a TikTok that had fans buzzing—not for a new routine, but for a cryptic caption: “going home after an away meet >” That greater-than sign? It might as well have been a mic drop. The LSU star wasn’t gearing up for a dramatic postseason comeback—she was headed home. And in the comments section, things got very Livvy.

“Are you coming back for your 9th season next year?” one user joked, clearly poking fun at how long college athletes seem to stick around these days. Dunne clapped back playfully with, “I should.” Cue the virtual raised eyebrows. Then another fan cut to the chase: “Wait, why didn’t u compete?”  Livvy didn’t dodge it. She kept it real: “I’m recovering from a fractured kneecap.”

Boom. There it was. The official confirmation we suspected after her heartbreaking March announcement that she wouldn’t get her senior night sendoff. And with her absence from the NCAA Regional Final, the writing’s on the wall—Dunne’s collegiate gymnastics journey is almost at its final chapter. But wait, what about the ninth season? Let’s be honest—that was sarcasm. According to the NCAA calendar, Livvy’s got just two more meets left at most, and with her injury status, even those feel unlikely. Retirement is knocking—and this time, she might just answer.

In her podcast sit-down with LSU teammate Flau’jae Johnson, Livvy hinted at life beyond the beam. “I’m always trying to think of the next thing, and yes, I would like to enjoy certain moments more, but I love to think about what comes next.” Not elite gymnastics. Not coaching. Instead, she’s leaning into her already-massive NIL empire—a move that could redefine what post-college life looks like for female athletes. So, no more cracked kneecaps. No more away meets. Just business deals, brand partnerships, and—fingers crossed—a whole lot more time to be front row for Paul Skenes’ rise with the Pirates. What do you think? Is this the end of Livvy’s gymnastics career?