Olivia Dunne, the former LSU gymnastics star turned social media sensation, has always embraced life with a touch of spontaneity and a deep love for her roots. Whether it was nailing routines on the mat or sharing glimpses of her day-to-day with her millions of TikTok followers, Dunne’s world has always blended sport, soul, and serendipity. That spirit carried right into her relationship with Paul Skenes—the Pittsburgh Pirates’ top prospect and a flame-throwing right-hander who’s making waves in the MLB. But a recent revelation has added a surprising twist to their love story. What could it be?

Well, their romance is already the stuff of sports fairy tales, but a recent discovery has added a layer of destiny that has got us all buzzing. While moving out of her Louisiana home, Olivia’s mom unearthed a ticket stub from an LSU vs. Air Force baseball game, a game where Paul, then a cadet pitcher, was on the mound.

Olivia was there, in the stands, not even knowing him. Wild, right? How does a forgotten ticket rewrite a love story? On 29 July, Olivia shared the moment on TikTok, her voice brimming with disbelief: “So right now, I’m in Jersey, and my mom is moving stuff out of my house in Louisiana for me… and then my mom finds this. It’s a ticket to the LSU versus Air Force baseball game, and Paul was on Air Force’s team, and that was my first college baseball game ever. And I didn’t know him. Like, that is crazy.”

She’d been at LSU for five years, amassing a treasure trove of college memories, but this ticket? It was a hidden gem, proof she and Paul crossed paths before they ever met. Can you imagine finding out you were at the same game as your future partner, years before you knew their name?

“I always knew he played against LSU, but I never thought I was at the game,” Olivia continued, still reeling. “Like, I didn’t know I was there, and I went to that game. Like, that is just wild to me.” That 2021 game, when Paul was a sophomore at Air Force and Olivia was just another LSU fan, feels like fate now. Their actual meeting came later, in 2022, after Paul transferred to LSU and led the Tigers to a 2023 College World Series title. But isn’t it poetic that their story started before they even knew it?

“I don’t know, it was meant to be,” Olivia Dunne said, and you can’t help but agree. From that serendipitous game to their high-profile romance, Olivia and Paul are living proof that some things are just destined. How did the two meet?

Paul Skenes and Olivia Dunne’s love story

Imagine being a fly on the wall at LSU in 2022, where two rising stars, gymnast Olivia Dunne and pitcher Paul Skenes, first crossed paths. Olivia, a social media phenom with millions of followers, and Paul, a transfer from Air Force who’d soon become the No. 1 MLB draft pick, weren’t just campus celebs, they were on a collision course with romance. Their meet-cute? A classic college setup: Paul’s best friend was dating Olivia’s roommate, gymnast Elena Arenas. Sparks flew, but how did they go from friends to power couple?

By summer 2023, Olivia was smitten, admitting she’d “stalked” Paul in the dugout before their first ice cream date. “I don’t know, it was meant to be,” she later said on TikTok, reflecting on a 2021 LSU-Air Force game ticket she unknowingly kept from when Paul pitched. Their bond grew as Paul led LSU baseball to the 2023 College World Series title, while Olivia helped the gymnastics team clinch the 2024 NCAA championship. What’s it like to cheer for your partner’s dreams?

Fast forward to May 2024: Olivia was in the stands for Paul’s MLB debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates, beaming with pride. From chance encounters to shared triumphs, their story feels like destiny. Where will their journey take them next?