OLYMPIC GAMES | GYMNASTICS
Will Olivia Dunne compete in the 2024 Olympics in Paris?
Dunne is one of the most talented and charismatic gymnasts in the US. Will she compete at the Summer Olympics?
The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris will gather the best athletes from all sports worldwide for two weeks. It’s the biggest sporting event in the world and thousands of athletes will have the chance of fighting for an Olympic medal for their countries, whether they are heavy favorites to accomplish that feat or not.
One of the sports that traditionally has attracted big audiences is artistic gymnastics, as it’s one of the most spectacular competitions to watch.
Team USA will be among the main favorites to win some medals in Paris, as the American delegation will be led by Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast of all time and widely regarded as one of the greatest gymnasts ever, with a total of 37 Olympic and World Championship medals.
Will Olivia Dunne be in the Olympic Games with Team USA?
Besides Biles, three Olympic veterans, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, and Jade Carey will lead 16-year-old talent Hezly Rivera in the women’s team for the Summer Games. That means that Olivia Dunne, one of the best and most charismatic American talents, won’t participate in the Paris Olympics.
What’s the reason why Dunne won’t be in Paris? Health seems to be the answer. Dunne revealed in 2021 that she had no plans to compete in the world’s biggest sporting event and more recently she stated in an interview she wasn’t hoping to qualify for the Olympics.
“I was an elite gymnast, which meant you were training for the Olympics”, she said.
However, problems started when she got injured while training some years ago. “I got hurt when I was about, I think, 15 or 16 years old. My bone had, like, died in my ankle, and it fractured. ... I was like, maybe this isn’t for me anymore”.
But far from regretting not pursuing the Olympic dream, she seems quite comfortable with it. She recently posted a video compilation on TikTok of Olympic potential stars injuring themselves. “Snubbed fr,” she joked.
Dunne criticizes the USA elite gymnastics program
Another reason why Dunne, 21, decided not to try to compete at the Olympics is her experience while training as an elite gymnast at Karolyi Ranch.
“The elite gymnastics program is pretty dysfunctional”, she revealed.
“I remember the first time I went, I thought it was going to be a fun summer camp with gymnastics. No. I was completely wrong. It was honestly abusive there”, she added.
With an offer from the LSU Tigers women’s gymnastics team back then, the decision became even easier for her.
Dunne, who has millions of followers on her socials, announced in an Instagram post this month that she is returning for a fifth year at LSU:
“Dear LSU, these past four years have changed my life. There’s something about putting on a purple and gold leotard. There’s something about competing in front of 13,000 screaming Tiger fans. There’s something about being pushed by your coaches to be your very best. And there’s something about being a part of a team that made school history”.