“gymnastics, i will love you forever.” Six simple words, but in Olivia Dunne’s world, they carried the weight of a lifetime. Though she had already announced her retirement from the sport, the caption—posted on April 18 beneath a throwback photo of her younger self clutching a trophy, a medal hanging proudly around her neck—struck a deeper chord. It was more than nostalgia. It was a farewell letter wrapped in love, pride, and quiet heartbreak.  Well, the image painted a full-circle moment: the little girl in a onesie, beaming with innocent joy, had grown into a star who had conquered the NCAA stage, inspired millions on social media, and carried the hopes of young gymnasts everywhere. But that post? That moment? It made one thing clear…

Olivia Dunne might have stepped off the mat, but the sport still lived inside her. Because between the lines of farewell, there’s a lingering whisper. A what-if. Maybe. A door that isn’t fully shut. Dunne’s journey has never followed the expected script—so who’s to say her story ends here? Is there something in the works? A post-collegiate twist? A chapter we haven’t read yet?

Yes! In her interaction with USA Today Sports today, Livvy said, “I definitely would want to do something with sports and keep advocating for women’s sports, especially since I’m fortunate to have this platform.” She further conceded, “It’s important to keep eyes on women’s sports and keep the hype around gymnastics especially.”  But isn’t it something she has said previously—developing women’s sports, preferably gymnastics? 

Yes. In 2023, Olivia Dunne said in an interview, “I really just hope that [The Livvy Fund] is the first of many.” The Livvy Fund? Does the name ring a bell? It might, for good reason. On July 6, 2023, Dunne launched the initiative with a clear mission: to help female student-athletes carve out their own space in the growing world of NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals. Her goal wasn’t just personal empowerment — it was cultural impact. Also in the interview today, she added, “I can’t pinpoint what I want to do, but I want to try everything. I want to try new opportunities. I just want to explore what my options are going to be and just do everything and have fun with it…and I’ll keep being a sports fan and staying involved with sports.”

“I really hope to get as many women student athletes on board as I can. I want to continue to elevate women’s sports as a whole because they really deserve the same publicity as the men’s.” Even earlier that spring, in an interview, Livvy had hinted at a turning point in her journey. “I’m really excited to start this new chapter… I’m looking forward to grad school and seeing what’s next.” Now, “what’s next” is no longer a mystery.

On April 17, 2025, in the wake of LSU’s heartbreaking loss at the NCAA Gymnastics Championships, Olivia Dunne officially announced her retirement from competitive gymnastics. In her farewell post, she wrote simply, “[peace emoji] Out gymnastics it’s been real… and of course forever LSU!” For fans who watched her performing on the mat and dominating in the spotlight, the moment felt heavy, not just an end, but an emotional closing of a story built on grit and grace. It marked the close of a chapter that carried the weight of a thousand dreams, and it wasn’t exactly what Livvy may have wanted.

Olivia Dunne had a disappointing end to her collegiate gymnastics career

It wasn’t supposed to end like this. Olivia Dunne must have entered the 2025 season with high hopes — a final year of eligibility, a team hungry to defend their title, and one last shot to leave it all on the mat. But fate had other plans.

She competed in just the first four meets before an avulsion fracture in her patella (kneecap) derailed everything. Painful. Frustrating. Not the script any athlete wants, especially in their senior year. She missed LSU’s Senior Night — the moment meant to celebrate everything she had given to the sport — watching from the sidelines instead of standing in the spotlight. Still, Livvy wasn’t ready to let go.

In the days leading up to the NCAA Championships, she held on to hope. “I’m doing everything I can to be able to,” she said on March 31. “I’m not sure what the case will be, but I don’t think I’ll be able to tumble or do beam. Bars is not out of the question.” That flicker of belief — the hope of one last moment — carried her and her fans through the uncertainty. But then came April 17.

Inside an electric arena, the LSU Tigers gave it everything they had in the NCAA semifinals — pressure in the air, dreams on the line. And just like that, it was over. The curtain dropped not just on the team’s season, but for Dunne, who wasn’t on that mat, her collegiate career ended. And yet, even in the heartbreak, there’s a new beginning. She may have checked off her last routine, but her checklist isn’t done. Not even close. Because while her gymnastics career has ended, her mission — to elevate women’s sports, to empower the next generation — is just beginning.