Just days after retiring, Olivia Dunne has gotten back to doing what she loves the most—gymnastics. Dunne, who has emerged as one of the most prominent athletes in the NCAA realm, had a heartbreaking end to her season. With the LSU Tigers looking to clinch their second successive NCAA title, the resultant outcome was pretty much contrary to expectations. Unable to qualify for the finals, the Tigers bowed out of the championships. And this meant that the Olivia Dunne era in the NCAA came to a screeching halt. But despite being heartbroken, Dunne seems to have found shelter in gymnastics.

Taking to numerous social media handles, Dunne has been posting several stories of her 20 years worth in gymnastics. In her Instagram stories, Dunne could be seen swinging from a high bar. Surprisingly, while she was supposed to make a perfect landing, Dunne looked quite rusty as she thudded on the mat with an awkward fall. Captioning the video, Dunne wrote, “2 days into retirement be like.” She next posed in a stylish manner while sporting clothing from the brand ‘Vuori.’

But this was not all the nostalgia that Olivia Dunne brought back via her social media. Posting a reel on YouTube, Dunne had glimpses of all her gymnastics antics right from her childhood. The throwback video consisted of a young Dunne tumbling all the way to her dazzling in a full-fledged ‘LSU heartthrob’ avatar. Reminiscing the golden days, Dunne stated, “gymnastics, you will always be a part of me.”

However, the pangs of getting ousted from the championships abruptly did leave a lasting impact on Dunne. She hinted at the same by writing, “all of this for 20 years just for it to end on a random thursday.” Surely, after winning the championship last year, Dunne escalated to the peak of fame. She quickly became one of the top NIL athletes in the country. According to the ON3 NIL 100 list, Dunne’s estimated net worth back in 2023 was a whopping $3.5 million!

Coming to her season this year, Dunne was determined to take an active part in her team’s triumph. Unfortunately, those hopes were extinguished as Dunne suffered from an agonizing knee complication that kept her out of the competition. With the Tigers finishing third this time, it signalled for a new champion to take on the crown. And as for Olivia Dunne, she is happy to have been a part of LSU for 5 long years.

Olivia Dunne says goodbye to gymnastics with grace, grit, and one final heartbreak

“It’s been real… and of course forever LSU!” With those parting words, Olivia Dunne closed the final chapter of her gymnastics career after LSU’s season came to an abrupt end in the NCAA semifinals on Thursday, April 17. The Tigers finished third in the round, falling short of a spot in the championship final. And for Dunne, who missed the meet due to injury, the result marked both a team heartbreak and a personal farewell.

Livvy took to X shortly after the meet, writing, “Couldn’t have asked for a better 5 years! Thank you, LSU.” She followed it with her now-viral signoff post, signaling her exit from the sport with a peace sign emoji and a simple, heartfelt goodbye. It was a quiet but powerful moment that sparked a wave of emotional responses from fans. Messages flooded in, with many thanking her for the memories and calling her spirit unforgettable.

Though she had fought to recover from an avulsion fracture in her kneecap sustained on March 6, time wasn’t on her side. In a recent interview, she described the injury as “such a weird” one, stemming from overuse rather than impact. Dunne even admitted that she had been doing “everything” she could to return. Ultimately, Olivia Dunne’s NCAA journey ends not with a routine but with a message and a legacy.