Livvy Dunne Bids Farewell to Gymnastics After LSU Falls Short of NCAA Repeat

Olivia "Livvy" Dunne, LSU's superstar gymnast and social media phenom, officially closed the book on her competitive gymnastics career Thursday. The announcement came after LSU, last year’s champions, finished third in the NCAA semifinals at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas—falling short of a repeat run.

Taking to X, Dunne wrote, "[Peace] out gymnastics it’s been real… and of course forever LSU," marking the end of a chapter that’s been as dazzling on the mat as it has online.

Dunne, 22, was sidelined for the final stretch due to an avulsion fracture of her patella, an injury she revealed last month. In a bittersweet Instagram post, she confessed, "It absolutely breaks my heart not to get the opportunity to compete in the PMAC one last time." For anyone who’s ever left a dream unfinished—ouch, that stings.

The New Jersey native had returned for a fifth year at LSU, thanks to extra eligibility from the COVID-19 era, but injury had other plans. Despite not competing this season, Dunne was a powerhouse off the floor, leveraging her massive social media following and becoming one of NCAA's top NIL earners. She also helped LSU secure its historic first NCAA title just last year.

LSU, seeded No. 1, couldn’t clinch back-to-back titles, while Utah nabbed its fifth straight Final Four spot. Joining them for the NCAA women’s gymnastics showdown are UCLA, Oklahoma, and Missouri.

Outside the gym, Dunne’s life has been grabbing just as many headlines, from her high-profile relationship with Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes to her ability to silence TikTok trolls with the same flair she brought to her floor routines.

So, while the mat may be cleared, something tells me Livvy’s spotlight isn’t dimming anytime soon.