It is often the quiet, domestic interludes, not the medals, the headlines, or the high-profile endorsements, that render the lives of public figures most relatable. While Olivia Dunne’s name has become closely associated with elite collegiate gymnastics and the commercial world that increasingly surrounds it, a recent celebration offered a markedly different glimpse into her personal sphere. The occasion, modest in scope yet rich in sentiment, revolved not around competition or performance, but the simple joy of companionship. And this time, Dunne found joy in her goofy gym partner!

Dunne’s relationship with her golden retriever, Roux, has been quietly documented across social media platforms since she and her partner, professional baseball pitcher Paul Skenes, welcomed the dog into their home in late 2023. Now residing primarily with Dunne in Louisiana, Roux has, by all appearances, become a steady fixture in her daily life. Whether accompanying her on trips to visit Skenes or simply remaining close during gym routines, the dog’s presence has grown increasingly visible, both digitally and domestically.

This week, however, Roux took center stage in Dunne’s narrative. Marking the dog’s second birthday, the gymnast turned her Instagram feed into a curated homage to her four-legged companion. The celebratory series featured the two in affectionate poses, with Dunne cradling Roux and captioning the moment with phrases that blended humor and sentiment. “The queen’s 2nd bday!” read one caption, while another declared, “MY BEST FRIEND IN DA WHOLE 🌍.” Additional images revealed Roux’s antics during gym sessions and concluded with simple yet telling tags, “DIVA” and “NOTHINGS CHANGED.”  Dunne seemed quite happy as Roux came in to put the LSU star off-balance during one of her workouts. Treating this as a happy hindrance, Dunne expressed her love for Roux with a background score that termed her canine friend as the ‘best.’ The tone, light-hearted yet intimate, suggested that the milestone held genuine meaning in Dunne’s routine-driven world.

Their connection, though clearly rooted in the personal, has also extended into public-facing projects. Earlier this year, Dunne and Roux were featured in a promotional campaign for Purina Pro Plan’s docuseries Fueled By, a project that also included athletes such as Michael Phelps and Lolo Jones. While the initiative framed Roux as part of Dunne’s athletic regimen, it also positioned their relationship within a broader narrative of well-being and emotional grounding.

Though Dunne’s professional schedule remains rigorously structured, moments such as these introduce a humanizing cadence to an otherwise demanding existence. Roux’s birthday, and Dunne’s celebration of it, underscores the quiet significance of personal bonds in the lives of those whose routines are often shaped by public expectation. It is within these lesser-seen moments that one gains a fuller picture. Not of the athlete, but of the person. Meanwhile, back in July 2024, Dunne provided further insights on her bonding with Roux. 

Olivia Dunne makes her feelings known about Roux

The conversation did not drift. Olivia Dunne spoke of Roux with a certain clarity that suggested none of it was for effect. The former LSU gymnast, when asked, did not pivot to broader anecdotes or tidy conclusions. Instead, she returned repeatedly to the matter at hand. The uncomplicated presence of a dog she chose not for convenience or display, but because a golden retriever named Biscuit had once filled a space in her childhood that few people likely could. “I’ve always been a dog person,” she told Country Living. “Her name was Biscuit, and she was a golden retriever. I was homeschooled growing up, so she was my best friend.”

The connection, then, was not manufactured later to match public perception. It had already been established, set years before with a different dog, in a different life. When Dunne now speaks of Roux, her own golden retriever, the rhythm is familiar, shaped by routine and tempered by realism. Roux, as she put it, “definitely keeps me on my toes.” She describes the dog’s refusal to let her stay idle. Even her quiet time, Dunne explained, is upended by a tail-wagging demand to move. “She’s a little athlete in herself, so she’s keeping me active.” There is no performance in the way she narrates this. 

Roux is not part of a curated lifestyle brand, but rather a consistent and grounding presence. In Dunne’s framing, dogs are not accessories or photo companions. They are sources of discipline, purpose, and health. “They can really help with an active lifestyle,” she said, “which is super important.”  Surely, the lesson is plain, and quite clearly, pretty much unpretentious.