Olivia Dunne Will Not Miss This Thing About Competing For LSU NCAA Gymnastics: “Love Hate Relationship”

Published 04/20/2024, 1:17 PM EDT

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Olivia “Livvy” Dunne, the senior gymnast from Louisiana State University (LSU), has become a sensation both on and off the mat. With her remarkable athletic prowess and a staggering social media following of over 5 million, Dunne has captured the attention of gymnastics enthusiasts and fans alike.

In a recent interview with ESPN’s SportsCenter, the talented athlete shared her aspirations for the upcoming season, reflecting on the significance of potentially bringing a National Championship to LSU gymnastics and the surreal experiences that come with her newfound fame.

Among a lot of LSU questions, she was inquired about the one thing she wouldn’t miss when departing from the varsity team. Answering the question, Dunne gave a glimpse of what she used to find most difficult. “Probably the conditioning. I don’t like lifting weights really. But I… it’s a love-hate relationship and I’ve learned to kind of love it this year because this has been the best physical shape I’ve been in since I’ve been in college. So it’s a love-hate relationship but I think that’s something I probably won’t miss” stated Dunne.

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Dunne joined the LSU Tigers team in 2020. However, things took a negative turn when she was injured and had to miss the 2022-23 season. She had torn labrums, biceps damage, and stress reaction on her leg. Probably it is these injuries due to which Dunne finds it a little odd to lift heavy weights. But unfortunately for Dunne, training is a key part of gymnastics and she has to go through the routine exercises before setting the stage ablaze with her performances. 

What’s next for Olivia Dunne?

Dunne will be competing in the finals with LSU against California, Utah, and Florida. This is LSU’s chance to clinch their first national title in gymnastics. This could be her last opportunity to compete at the national championships as a collegiate athlete, giving her extra motivation to leave it all on the floor. Now that Dunne has accepted the thing she dislikes most, hopefully, she will find a way around it. However, adversity is part of an athlete’s journey and she has used it as fuel to train even harder.

Perhaps it is her hard work and perseverance that will put her on the map once again, considering that the LSU has been a national runner-up thrice. All eyes will be on Dunne and her flair, difficulty, and consistency could vault LSU ahead of the competition. For a program that has come agonizingly close, securing the title with LSU leading the charge would be a monumental achievement.

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Written by:

Ritvan Pande

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One take at a time

Ritvan Pande is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. He covers Perspectives and Classics as the expert in the longform coverage. Inspired by the fabled Chicago Bulls trio of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, Ritvan captures the staggering court encounters in the same competitive style.
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Edited by:

Sampurna Pal